Archive

As tough trading conditions force businesses to focus more and more on margins, the need to understand customer profitability is paramount. But too many companies do not know which channels and customers are their most profitable - either through a lack of information or by failing to use the information available to them properly. In this session our experts look at how businesses can improve mar... [read more]

It's looking grim out there. Now more than ever the finance director should step up to the plate in delivering leadership and effective financial management across the organisation. In this session we will discuss the role of the finance function in making the organisation more flexible and responsive to changes in the market, in driving efficiency and profitability, and how in protecting and shor... [read more]

Despite often substantial investment in systems, the production of management information and subsequent reconciliation continues to cause pain for finance teams and business units alike. The promise of the nineties that mega ERP, CRM and executive information systems would deliver information integration failed to materialise and companies continue to battle to identify a single and accurate sou... [read more]

Multinationals are changing with the most successful becoming global integrated enterprises. For these companies, national borders are increasingly irrelevant and define less and less the boundaries of corporate thinking and practice. How does finance fit into this new agenda? And how should finance departments transform themselves to deliver within these new structures? In this session we a... [read more]

As the credit crunch bites and the threat of recession looms, how should finance directors respond to what the Bank of England describes as the most challenging economic environment they have seen for a decade? How can FDs manage investment with less funds available, cope with shocks when there is less room to be flexible and still meet market and stakeholder expectations? And how can finance t... [read more]

The majority of enterprises have experienced material risk events in the past three years – with nearly half that number admitting they were under-prepared for its consequences. But for companies of all shapes and sizes, business is more complex and more risky. Globalisation is putting an additional burden on an already full finance agenda, with traditional barriers for global sources and uses o... [read more]

After what was the most exciting PBR of recent years - our experts look at the fall-out for corporates. Headline measures may effect private equities recent market dominance and the new capital gains regime is bound to influence investment decisions - but what lies underneath? We will be answering these and other questions as well as taking a look at the latest measures introduced in the new com... [read more]

Finance has a central role to play in ensuring corporate decisions are based on well-founded business cases. But in too many situations decision-making is flawed and inconsistent. What role can finance directors and senior members of their teams play in improving decision-making and ensuring that decisions taken result in performance improvement? How can they strike the right balance bet... [read more]

Seventy-five percent of companies say their inability to develop future leaders is a critical issue. Yet no complex organisation can transform itself without great leaders – those who can deliver business results while guiding an organisation through ongoing turbulence and uncertainty. What new leadership skills are needed in finance teams to cope with the new challenges associated with globaliz... [read more]

How can businesses move to real-time internal reporting? What are the obstacles and do the benefits outweigh the costs? In this session our expert panel answers these and other questions on internal reporting and also examines whether companies may be required to accelerate their adoption by moves to advance real-time reporting…externally.

As finance directors look to spend more of their time focusing on strategy, do shared service centres have a role to play in freeing up their diaries? How can FDs and senior members of their teams best manage the roles and responsibilities of a centralised function and of the core team that's left to run the organisation? How can they become intelligent customers of centralised services? And how c... [read more]

Will there be any long-lasting effects of the credit crunch on the real economy? In this session our expert panel will take a close look at the impact of US sub-prime crisis and the run on Northern Rock. Should we expect higher interest rates, both for individuals and businesses? How deeply will the number of M&A deals, especially those involving private-equity firms, be affected? Will there be ... [read more]

A company must have a clear picture and understanding of what assets they own before they can even begin to manage their IT effectively, however many organisations fall some way short of this. In this session we look at how companies can better identify, manage and value IT assets. Should IT be treated any different from other more tangible assets? What are the essentials of an effective governa... [read more]

There is evidence to suggest that investors prefer to back organisations with strong governance practices, however there are widely differing attitudes to governance and compliance among different organisations. Rather than a box-ticking exercise, if corporate governance is approached and managed correctly it can reward Boards without disrupting the efficiency of the business. In this session ou... [read more]

Companies face a real challenge in simultaneously managing costs and growth initiatives. These activities are not however mutually exclusive since monies saved from effectively managing a company's cost structures can be applied to new business transformation initiatives. The challenge facing FDs is to be successful in driving growth and cutting costs at the same time - in other words, innovatio... [read more]

How can companies best use business intelligence throughout their organisations to enhance business performance, improve productivity and strengthen customer relationships? This session will also look at how finance directors can help business managers to implement and optimise systems, and better understand customer value and profitability.

The last few years have seen a rise in private equity activity and the market is transforming the business landscape. Our panel of experts explore the role of the finance director in a private equity-backed business, including the expectations placed on the FD by the private equity investors, and examines the importance and pitfalls associated with the exit process.

FDs may sit at the top decision-making table, but their voice is not always heard when it comes to strategy. As finance directors seek to be seen as more than policemen, how can they fulfil their new role as investor champions, delivering value for shareholders? And what role should their financial controllers and others be playing in ensuring governance is sound, while driving the business forwar... [read more]

How can businesses best combine corporate social responsibility with their responsibility to shareholders when it comes to green issues? Our experts discuss issues around greener business – from energy management to taxation, and managing wider stakeholder interests to ensuring your supply chain shares your concerns.

The need for finance directors and senior members of their teams to meet – and be seen to meet - ethical standards has never been more important. But the landscape is constantly shifting. As well as traditional corporate governance rules, finance teams now need to consider fully corporate social responsibility and environmental obligations. In these changing times should FDs seek to seize contro... [read more]

How can businesses collate the intellectual knowledge they hold within their organization? How can it be transferred into a format that enables finance directors and other senior financial managers to share the information? And how can businesses get the most out of the information. This session will look at structured techniques – business intelligence, CRM and ERP software – and unstructured... [read more]

Do demands for businesses to move away from quarterly reports towards 'real-time' reporting stack up? Will they benefit investors and preparers – or simply frustrate and confuse. More to the point can technology deliver? How should businesses apply SOA and other approaches to ensure systems can cope?

How can UK companies best succeed in an increasingly global economy? What factors should be borne in mind in deciding where, when and to what extent businesses should invest? And crucially, how can finance directors and their teams ensure that risks are managed, opportunities pursued and potential rewards maximized? Our expert panel will be on hand to offer advice and examine success stories.

What are the skills that a finance director needs to operate effectively? Is there an ideal FD CV and skillset? Or should diversity of experience, knowledge and qualification be welcomed.

Does anyone read the annual report. An FD recently confessed that all anyone looked for in the annual report was the directors' pay. So what are annual reports intended for, are they too big, can they be slimmed down and how do you make yours relevant and engaging.

What's the current state of the economy - here in the UK, in Europe, America and in emerging markets? What is the view of leading pundits? How do the views of the experts square with the experience of businesspeople at the coalface? Does the 'official view' stack up against actual experience? Now that we have greater economic stability -- "No more boom and bust" as the Chancellor is so fond of say... [read more]

In driving business growth, finance departments need to partner more, and analyse and predict, not simply record and report. But do finance teams have the right strategic skills to do so? And do they have the operational culture to ensure a successful transition? In this session our experts outline the new skills that are needed and offer advice on how to acquire them.

What are the IT skills required by the modern finance director and senior members of his or her team? How involved should they be in identifying, sourcing and managing their business's technology needs? And if an individual lacks the necessary skills can they afford to rely on others to fill in the gaps – or is education a necessity?

How can companies use financial reporting to promote greater transparency of corporate strategy and performance? And how can they provide investors and others with the information they need to make better decisions? In this session we look at enhanced business reporting? the provision of the financial and non-financial information that can help stakeholders move away from short-term business decis... [read more]

Despite enormous investment of time and resources, many major business improvement initiatives fail to deliver lasting success. From outsourcing to technology implementation, how can you overcome the obstacles and barriers that stand in the way of successful and sustainable change. And, crucially, how can you ensure buy-in from teams and individuals.

Managing finance staff across many countries to produce consolidated accounts can be a tricky business. Assurances are required that all staff are working to the right quality and that all accounts are reliable. HR has to be sure its appointed the right staff and FDs have to be sure communication is pinpoint accurate. How are these and many other difficulties overcome? And how can outsourcing help... [read more]

History is littered with stories of failed IT implementations as projects regularly came in millions of pounds over budget and months overdue. Is there a magic formula that organisations can use to ensure a far smoother IT systems implementation? Or is it all about expectation management? And, crucuially, what role should the finance director and the finance function be playing in technology expe... [read more]

With merger and acquisition activity so pronounced in Europe over the past two years, the spotlight is again falling on the need to conduct post-deal integration quickly and effectively. Too many corporate marriages fail to deliver shareholder value – how can you ensure yours is successful? In this session we look at how best to ensure the right kind of leadership, communication and structured pla... [read more]

There may be a worldwide shortage of high calibre, newly qualified accountants but competition for the best jobs is as intense as ever. So what do some of the most dynamic employers in the UK want to see from the current crop of young professionals? And are the institutes equipping their students with the right skills that businesses need?