professional associations
CIMA business flight simulator takes off
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has devised a course which enables financial and non-financial professionals the chance to run a virtual business.
Putting some weight on the skills menu
CIMA contends that 2009 will be the year of the finance director as they struggle to make the finance function fit for purpose. While under pressure simply to improve ethics Ray Perry, director of brand at CIMA, says they must also look to improve skills and CIMA is striving to help in this.
ACT MarketWatch: Update on rules and reporting
Martin O'Donovan, ACT's assistant director of policy and technical issues, takes a look at some of the recent changes and developments in the regulatory environment. He looks at Financial Reporting Review Panel priorities for the coming year, ideas on counterparties for CDS and new rules on CFD reporting and changes to HMRC rules.
ACT MarketWatch: Update on rules and reporting
The month's MarketWatch briefs from the ACT look at new reporting ideas from the SEC, including a replacement of Edgar, roadmap to IFRS, the concept of materiality, pre-emption charges and amendments to IAS 39.
IFRS impact on cost of equity
Martin O'Donovan, ACT's assistant director of policy and technical issues, reports on a research paper from accountants' body ACCA which considers the effects of accounting standards on the cost of equity, and whether improvements in accounting and disclosure quality are driven by mandatory standards or market incentives.
A call for a more business-like approach to ethics
While ethics and corporate governance have been a boardroom catch-phrase for the past few years, there is a danger that recession will remove it from the agenda altogether. Charles Tilley, chief executive of CIMA warns people have had enough of the greenwash. Companies need leadership from the top down.
Expert views on working capital
In our continuing series to help finance directors tackle the recession, we have a series of presentations from a recent Association of Corporate Treasurers seminar on handling working capital.
New chief executive for the Association of Corporate Treasurers
Early ACT member takes top position.
ACT MarketWatch: SEPA direct debit fee approved
Martin O'Donovan, ACT's Assistant Director, reports on changes to cross-border and domestic debit charges under SEPA.
ACT MarketView: Treasurers attack EU plans to regulate rating agencies
The ACT's Martin Donovan reports on why treasurers feel regulation of ratings agencies will increase costs and interfere in competition.
The Bottom Line:If Mr Cable has his way...
"If Mr Cable had his way, all the big banks would be broken up and bonuses would be virtually eliminated - a sure-fire way in my view of guaranteeing an end to the UK’s ability to compete as an international financial centre. Let’s not forget that this is a man who is on record as saying that everyone who works in a bank has an ‘aristocratic lifestyle’ clearly demonstrating his lack of understanding of the sector." A tough line on bankers’ bonuses could make a brain drain of financial talent a distinct possibility, warns Paul Marsden. Read more