Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in ETUCE’s Financial Management
Resolution from the 2024 ETUCE Conference
This Conference notes:
1.The significant budget deficit of €108,228 incurred by ETUCE in 2023, despite the utilisation of all reserves, as revealed by the external audit conducted by Ernst & Young.
2.The findings of the I-Force Audit Report, which identified systemic failures in financial monitoring, budget revisions and oversight.
3.The pressing need for ETUCE to implement measures to ensure that financial processes are transparent and accountable to member organisations.
This Conference believes:
1.That transparency and accountability are core principles that must guide ETUCE’s financial management and that member organisations must have full confidence in the governance of their dues and resources.
2.That the lack of financial oversight and monitoring that contributed to the 2023 deficit was avoidable.
3.That immediate steps must be taken to implement rigorous financial monitoring processes, ensure the separation of project funding from main income and expenditure, and enhance accountability to all member organisations.
This Conference resolves:
1.To mandate the immediate institution of a regular and transparent financial monitoring process for ETUCE, with clear, quarterly reporting of expenditure and budget performance to the Bureau and member organisations.
2.To require that all budget reports and audits be made available to member organisations in a timely manner, ensuring full visibility of ETUCE’s financial health.
3.To request that ETUCE adopts EI protocols for financial oversight, as a model for improved financial governance, including direct reporting from the Finance Officer to the Bureauin accordance with the responsibilities of the European Director and Treasurer according to the ETUCE by-laws.
4.To call for the provision of financial training for all staff involved in ETUCE’s budget processes to ensure they are fully equipped to manage finances in a transparent and accountable manner.
5.To recommend that ETUCE undertakes an independent review of staffing costs and meeting expenses, exploring synergies with EI operations, and reducing costs through increased use of online platforms for meetings and events,while not underestimating the importance of in person meetings to build trust, commitment and connectedness between member organisations and in conducting in-depth debates.
6.To require ETUCE to implement a policy of separating project funding from the general budget to ensure full transparency over project-related income and staff costs.
7.To request that ETUCE member organisations be regularly updated on financial matters, with the option to request additional information or clarification as required.
8.To ensure that any deficits in future are addressed promptly with clear accountability for addressing overspending and budget discrepancies, and to encourage ETUCE to seek external funding partnerships to diversify income streams.
9.That Education International (EI) be asked to support thereview process of ETUCE’s financial procedures and protocolsled by the ETUCE Committee,with expertise andrecommendations for long-term sustainability.
10.That EI be asked to consider the feasibility of staff cost-sharing between EI and ETUCE to alleviate financial pressure on member organisations’ dues.