Why your firm needs a data scientist October 16, 2014 Part analyst, part artist, they’re the future employees that will save you money, says Symantec’s Ian Wood OFFICES are busy places. Although the dream of the paperless workplace won’t happen, the amount of information generated in every office is exploding. Information Governance Initiative (IGI) recently showed that the average office’s data doubles every two years, [...]
Don’t ignore the corporate culture challenge: Action and integrity at the top are critical October 15, 2014 It is probably breaking with corporate culture to write about a report that hasn’t yet been published. We say “probably”, because the assumed culture at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and most other organisations is that we keep things under wraps until publication date. But it’s just too relevant and timely to [...]
Competition in the office: Does it boost results? October 15, 2014 Infighting can be distracting, but helps keep a company nimble. City firms are no strangers to internal competition. The leading investment banks and Big Four accountancy firms reportedly allocate year-end bonuses in part through staff ranking each other’s performances, while numerous companies (elite strategy consultancies included) have adopted some variant of the “rank and [...]
Cost control: A firm focus on fees is crucial for investors October 14, 2014 Keep a close eye on administration and dealing costs In times of market turmoil, it’s easy to become absorbed in the details of asset allocation, stock selection and risk hedging. And while these factors are leading determinants of the long-term performance of your portfolio, it’s crucial not to overlook the importance of keeping a lid [...]
Don’t panic: How to keep your head in volatile stock markets October 14, 2014 THE PAST month has been tough for financial markets. Despite strong economic performance in the UK and US, investors will have to get used to volatile markets, as growth in Europe and emerging markets continues to disappoint and the US Federal Reserve winds down its QE programme. September and October are typically bad months for [...]
Shared parental leave: What it’s worth knowing October 14, 2014 You can take it in blocks, but it won’t be the best option for everyone. Billed as Nick Clegg’s greatest achievement as deputy prime minister, from next year, parents will be able to share parental leave after the birth of their child. Designed to give more choice over how a baby is looked after [...]
Capital concerns: Europe’s bank woes – CNBC Comment October 13, 2014 News hit last week that Espirito Santo Financial Group, whose primary asset was a 20 per cent stake in the Portuguese bank Banco Espirito Santo, had declared bankruptcy, and not a moment too soon. Last Friday, the European Banking Authority announced 26 October as the official date for the reveal of the EU bank stress [...]
Risk off: How to take advantage of declining markets – DailyFX Tips & Picks October 13, 2014 RISK off is an old concept, but it has recently started to re-emerge on the back of stock markets declining slightly more than people had been expecting. It’s a term used when people opt for safety over potential returns. As an example, the FTSE 100 is down 7.8 per cent since August, which far exceeds [...]
Why PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel thinks luck will get you nowhere October 13, 2014 Harriet Green explores the tech billionaire’s contentious views on setting up a business. Co-founder of PayPal, first outside investor in Facebook and seasoned venture capitalist, Peter Thiel is Silicon Valley royalty. His new book, Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future, offers a series of insightful – and often [...]
Richard Branson: How passion can change your life October 12, 2014 Buzzwords can get tiresome, and “passion” is one that’s thrown around liberally. We’re told it pays to be passionate in our jobs, and that passionate leadership is the best kind. But however fed up most might feel with the word, Richard Branson has always been passionate about passion – arguing it got him to where [...]