Financial Director articles from November 2007

Financial Director archives from November 2007

oil's not well.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Dennis Turner oil's not well Slowing economic growth and the effects of soaring oil prices on CPI is a major headache for policymakers Between April 2005 and April 2006, the price of a barrel of oil jumped from $49.7 to...

blame game.(International Accounting Standards Board, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and International Financial Reporting Standards)
November 29, 2007... Byline: Peter Williams blame game IFRS implementation has led to lengthier reports but, in time, they will be less complex and more valuable Europe's listed companies are now experienced in dealing with producing accounts that...

under scrutiny.(Year-end figures will reveal the true impact of the credit crunch)
November 29, 2007... Byline: Peter Williams under scrutiny Year-end figures will reveal the true impact of the credit crunch, writes Peter Williams As the pre-year end December audits start to get under way, there is going to be more than the usual...

Another year bolder.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Peter Bartram Another year bolder Higher energy costs, rising inflation and slowing growth. Is it all bad news for the economy in 2008? words Peter Bartram It looks as though trouble is brewing in the world...

Benefit of the day.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Alex Blyth benefit of the day A [pounds sterling]2,000 pay rise or a [pounds sterling]2,000 benefits package: which is the better way to attract and retain top staff? Be honest. Which would your employees rather...

Bet your life.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Peter Williams bet your life Any hike on mortality assumptions will inflate the deficit on final salary schemes A- something no FD wants on their balance sheet The fact that we are all living longer, and that life...

proud parents.(International Financial Reporting Standards )
November 29, 2007... Byline: Robert Bruce proud parents Europe should embrace the achievements of IFRS, rather than begrudging its offspring's success It is a bit like an embarrassing family dispute, the sort where a rather old-fashioned father...

Your way out.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Anthony Harrington your way out More players than ever are willing to take over your pension scheme. Many FDs will be glad to show it the door A- but not yet There are more new players in the buyout market than ever, with...

Compliance burden raises cost of 'average' firms' finance teams.
November 29, 2007... Byline: David Rae Compliance burden raises cost of 'average' firms' finance teams Research by respected benchmarking company The Hackett Group paints a grim picture of the finance departments of 'average' companies. Its 2007 Book of...

FDs' financial experience puts them top of headhunters' wishlist.
November 29, 2007... Byline: David Rae FDs' financial experience puts them top of headhunters' wishlist Research by Orange into what headhunters look for when recruiting chief executives points to excellent people skills, experience of international...

UK business reveals global optimism.(United Kingdom)(Brief article)
November 29, 2007... Byline: David Rae UK business reveals global optimism The eleventh ICAEW Enterprise Survey highlighted how UK corporates continue to embrace globalisation, with 72% of respondents engaged in international activities. However,...

Bank losses and rising inflation intensify threat.
November 29, 2007... Byline: David Kern Bank losses and rising inflation intensify threat The credit crisis is worsening with escalating losses forcing bank executives to resign. Rumours of additional write-offs triggered falls in financial shares and...

Place your bets.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Charlotte Moore Place your bets How should you invest your pension scheme money to secure the maximum return without increasing your risk? Over the past decade, managing a company's pension has turned from a difficult...

should have seen it coming.
November 29, 2007... Byline: David Rae should have seen it coming There is still a discrepancy between what companies think will happen and what actually does happen A- so what should they do to avoid any nasty surprises? words David Rae...

Keeping mum.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Alex Blyth keeping mum Mothers returning to work are looking for supportive and well communicated maternity policies rather than higher salaries "I know at least one senior finance professional who, after she had children,...

Without a paddle.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Anthony Harrington Without a paddle Employers have cut their employees adrift from final salary schemes. Workers will be stuck at their desks for years As the long running saga of final salary schemes plays itself out...

Work to live.(Brief article)
November 29, 2007... Byline: Andrew Sawers worktolive Want to live longer? Go work for British Land. According to the pension scheme longevity assumptions published by FTSE-100 companies, male employees of the property company can expect to live to a ripe...

More fool you.(pension schemes)
November 29, 2007... Byline: Anthony Harrington more fool you You might think that a surplus in your pension pot was a good thing. But it's not much use if you can't get your hands on it If you thought that pension scheme deficits were a nuisance, you...

companies quizzed on co2 policy.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Elisabeth Jeffries companies quizzed on CO2 policy Investors want greater disclosure of green policies A- so how much CO2 does it take to make a packet of crisps? It will probably come as a surprise that BT is responsible...

Decisions leader.(employee's pension funds)(Brief article)
November 29, 2007... Byline: Andrewe Sawers How much are your employees squirreling away? Judging by all the evidence, nowhere near enough A- and the pension pot could be as little as [pounds sterling]20,000-[pounds sterling]30,000. Not even the most generous...

US tax hits deferred payments.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Neil Hodge us Tax hits deferred payments US tax rule changes will affect UK employee benefits schemes, which could leave workers with huge tax bills UK companies that have operations in the US or which employ US citizens...

directors get liability checklist.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Neil Hodge directors get liability checklist Executive and non-executive directors are not immune from multi-million pound fraud and damages claims While the chances of being at the receiving end of a multi-million pound...

face off.
November 29, 2007... Byline: David Rae face off On the face of it, social networking sites offer little, if any, business value. But try telling that to investors I got an email from my chief executive the other day. Nothing unusual in that, you...

Games companies play.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Sarah Perrin Games companies play Research by specialist cash flow consultancy REL reveals the scale of corporate game-playing in the US to enhance year-end figures A- and it seems that they are at it over here as well, writes...

Hard Driver.(Microsoft's Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell )
November 29, 2007... Byline: Andrew Sawers hard driver When your bosses are the billionaires Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, you need to match them for energy and determination, as Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell knows words andrew sawers portraits...

fired with enthusiasm.(resignations of government officials)
November 29, 2007... Byline: Andrew Sawers fired with enthusiasm I'm told that there's a petition on the Downing Street website calling for a new Bank Holiday in November. Apparently it would be called the National Remembrance Holiday, with the laudable...

right said fed.
November 29, 2007... Byline: Andrew Sawers right said fed From forecasting booms and crashes and helping to shape economic policy for more US presidents than anyone else, Alan Greenspan's memoirs show he has a real feeling for the economy, writes Andrew...

How the best differ from the rest Organisations with the most accurate forecasts differ from the average company in five important ways: n They take forecasting more seriously; holding managers accountable for agreed forecasts and incentivising. n The.(Brief article)
November 29, 2007... Byline: David Rae How the best differ from the rest Organisations with the most accurate forecasts differ from the average company in five important ways: n They take forecasting more seriously; holding managers accountable for...

Case study Ernst & Young.(Case study)
November 29, 2007... Byline: Alex Blyth Case study Ernst & Young "Maternity is a challenge to all mothers, regardless of their seniority or function within a business," says Richard Gartside, HR director at Ernst & Young. "Communication is key A- from...