Achieving budgetary balance in a virus crisis March 12, 2020 A proportionate response needs to be adopted in the face of the spread of Covid-19. That was certainly the sense from yesterday’s Budget. A calm and measured chancellor presented this government’s first Budget during very unusual times. This outbreak has been devastating, initially in China, but now in Italy and Iran too, with many countries [...]
Fighting shadows: Each technology advance puts new weapons in the hands of cyber-criminals February 13, 2020 US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, talking about the benefits of openness and transparency, famously said that sunlight is the best disinfectant. And, conversely, we are all rightly suspicious of anything that hides in the shadows and conceals identity and motive. Global cybercrime is able to exploit technology to create anonymity and avoid accountability as [...]
Four areas that the next government must focus on November 14, 2019 Britain is facing a momentously critical General Election. Beyond this vote, there are unprecedented challenges and opportunities ahead in the short and long term. Regardless of the outcome, several areas will demand clarity, close attention, and innovative solutions from our next government. 1. Brexit quandary Economic confidence has fallen heavily in recent years. ACCA’s Global [...]
Profit from purpose: What does it mean to be an ethical leader? October 17, 2019 At a time when the conduct of business leaders is regularly questioned, the concept of ethical leadership matters now more than ever. People are taking to the streets around the world, demanding action on human rights, civil liberties, and climate change. With the public becoming increasingly concerned about environmental, regulatory, and societal issues, these considerations [...]
Spending advice for the chancellor September 19, 2019 With the ongoing constitutional soap opera unfolding in Westminster, it’s hardly surprising that the Spending Round announcement from Sajid Javid didn’t make many headlines earlier this month. With parliament suspended until mid-October, there is some breathing space and time to reflect on the critical role that the Treasury will play in creating an environment where [...]
Our next Prime Minister should understand how crucial infrastructure projects are to the economy July 18, 2019 Tory members are electing their new leader and the next Prime Minister. Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt’s premiership will be dominated by a few issues – solving the Brexit deadlock in parliament, funding public services, and healing the country’s divides. But while it hasn’t featured as prominently as the European issue, infrastructure is of key [...]
Accountants can save the world (really) October 18, 2018 Last week, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a landmark report due to be presented to governments at the Conference of the Parties in December this year. Its conclusions are stark – global carbon emissions must start to reduce well within 12 years if we are to prevent potentially catastrophic climate change [...]
Mayor power: Devolution is giving Britain a brighter future September 13, 2018 With the distraction of Brexit, one could be forgiven for believing that devolution policy has been dormant since 2016. Indeed, as Westminster negotiates feverishly for optimal European and international status come 30 March, it can seem that domestic policy has been effectively on hold since the referendum. But in that time, a quiet revolution has [...]
Mayor power: Devolution is giving Britain a brighter future September 13, 2018 With the distraction of Brexit, one could be forgiven for believing that devolution policy has been dormant since 2016. Indeed, as Westminster negotiates feverishly for optimal European and international status come 30 March, it can seem that domestic policy has been effectively on hold since the referendum. But in that time, a quiet revolution has [...]
How to get more women to the very top of the business world March 8, 2017 This International Women’s Day, I have been thinking about why – after so many years of discussion – we still need an “international day” to commit to working towards gender equality. As a female chief executive of a global professional body, I am unusual and most of my peers are men. ACCA has helped buck [...]
