Isabellah Ekudde (MBA, FCCA)

What does a mock funding assurance review look like in practice? Uncover the key advantages of mock funding assurance reviews for education providers, such as risk mitigation and process improvement, as well as the four steps involved below ⬇ Find out more in this Forvis Mazars in the UK article ➡ https://lnkd.in/dUD3Z-uf #PublicSector #SocialSector #Assurance

2

I know I shouldn't admit this, but I do have favourites.. by which I mean, favourite HR leaders to interview! And one is Tanuj Kapilashrami from Standard Chartered. I first interviewed Tanuj in June 2021, when I was very new to the HR tech world - I think she was my first CHRO interview at UNLEASH, and it was pleasure to catch up with Tanuj recently at a Mercer event (thanks Kate Bravery) 😍 . The banking giant is making real strides towards becoming a skills-first organization, where skills are the currency of work (not jobs). They are doing this with the help of learning tech like Gloat and Cornerstone OnDemand, and it is helping not only keep employees skills up-to-date, but also ensuring the business is future-ready. But skills is not the only way that Standard Chartered is putting its people first (and reaping the business rewards). Read on to find out about why Tanuj and the leadership are very clear that "the workforce is the most critical stakeholder group", and that HR 's job is "to figure out the most impactful, value creating work that we can do within the function". #talentmanagement #HRleaderstories #HRleaderinterviews #futureofHR

14

1 Comment

As a financial professional do any of these key points resonate with you? According to Ernst and Young’s Tax and Finance Operations Survey for 2024 these are the concerns that tax and finance departments are facing in the current environment: ⬆ Increased Workload - 70% of finance leaders report that their teams are experiencing an increased workload due to evolving regulations and compliance requirements. ⬇ Staffing Challenges - 61% of CFOs indicate difficulty in hiring qualified tax and finance professionals, exacerbating the pressure on existing teams. 🔃 Technology Adoption - 58% of finance departments are investing in new technology to streamline processes, yet only 30% feel adequately prepared for these changes. ⬆ Risk Management - 75% of finance leaders express concern over the rising risks associated with tax compliance and regulatory changes. ⬇ Budget Constraints - 65% of organizations have faced budget cuts that limit their ability to invest in necessary resources for tax and finance departments. When faced with roadblocks like this the natural reaction is to find a solution. How has your organization adapted and risen to the challenge? #BudgetConstraints #WorkforceChallenges #TechnologyInFinance #RiskManagement #TaxCompliance

5

1 Comment

Private sector activity unchanged in July after dip in June

1

I am fully committed to the Oath of ethical investing across pivotal tenets: Integrity, excellence, fairness, equality, respect, transparency, confidentiality & growth I support the Mensarius Oath for ethical investing created by @govclab https://vcl.to/mensarius #MensariusOath

7

Latest insights from HSBC's capital expenditure report show that UK businesses are feeling increasingly positive about the future, with over half optimistic about growth in the next year - it's not lost on me that therefore nearly half are less so! Top takeaways for UK business owners: 👍 Optimism Rebounds - 55% of UK businesses are feeling confident about growth, thanks to a smooth election (albeit the honeymoon appears to be over) and a tech boom driving new opportunities. 💪 Resilience Through Uncertainty - UK firms are becoming experts at navigating complex global challenges, from supply chains to shifting oil prices. 💻 Tech Leading the Charge: Companies are placing huge importance on technology, with 81% of tech firms planning for growth this year. While there are uncertainties ahead, the report appears to give a positive spin on the UK business landscape showing it to be stronger and more adaptable than ever. #business #growth #opportunity #businessowners #insights https://lnkd.in/etD4YU6v

10

Stalwarts of innovative finance in India talking about how the first three three major impact bonds our country has seen came into existence, and the lessons for all of us trying to build this market…

2

Stuart Kirk and the report would both be correct if these buisinesses closed for good after “year seven”. I’ve not heard of a bank or any other company with that as their strategy and so directors breach their duties the longer they run them that way and the more obvious the issues become. That capital markets price/value things differently is a problem (one of many) that needs to be fixed. However, capital markets don’t price things as though their business will end in year seven, rather it seems more to be that prices don’t reflect climate and other ecological risks enough or at all. This before we get to stewardship responsibilities (it’s not our money!). The running assumption seems to be that the economy can continue to work as an extractive system forever. That is not going to happen. The planet will not negotiate and so finance will need to bend or it will break. Like in the global financial crisis, we’re playing musical chairs. #changefinance4good #esg #sustainablefinance

14

3 Comments

Hot off the press, how companies communicate financial performance is changing. Responding to investor calls for more relevant information, IFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements (effective from 1 January 2027) will enable companies to tell their story better through their financial statements. Read more in the article below #IFRS18 #kpmg

12

📊 Reflecting on my Insights from a Regional Bank of England briefing 📊 In May 2023, hosted by, WORTHING & ADUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY LIMITED I had the privilege to attend a thought-provoking briefing led by Florence B C Hubert at the Bank of England. This talk provided a fascinating look into predicting and analysing the UK’s economic performances for the year ahead. During that time, inflation was a pressing concern at 8.7%, with interest rates recently raised to 4.5%. The conference made some notable predictions: Inflation: It was forecasted that inflation would reach around 7% by mid-2023, In July 2023 we saw this come true when inflation declined to 6.8%. Moreover, the prediction that inflation would hit 2% by late 2024 has been on point, with recent data showing us reaching 2% this May. Business Impact: It was anticipated that higher interest rates would lead firms to reduce investment and employment over the next year. True to this forecast, UK business investment saw a slight uptick of 0.5% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter but remained 1.0% below growth compared to the same quarter a year ago, highlighting the cautious approach taken by businesses amidst tighter monetary conditions. One particularly enlightening aspect of the briefing was understanding the implications in analysis between headline and core inflation. The divergence at the time, with core CPI lower than headline due to impacts from the Russia/Ukraine conflict on food supplies and energy prices, helped shed light on the complexities influencing our inflation rate. This briefing was a pleasure to attend and has reaffirmed the legitimacy and foresight of the Bank of England in navigating economic challenges.  And having been awarded this year's Economics Prize at Lancing College, I am excited to further my studies in monetary policy aspiring towards a career where I can harness my education in the field of economics to model economic phenomena after my study at university. My passion for economics has been deepened through my A-level journey which was aided through the invaluable insights gained from the Bank of England briefing which has enhanced both my understanding and enthusiasm for the subject. Looking ahead, I eagerly await my A level results as my time at Lancing College has come to an end. I already miss the vibrant community and enriching experiences that shaped my journey. Grateful for the friendships, guidance from teachers, and opportunities to grow both academically and personally. Nevertheless, excited for what the future holds as I prepare for the next chapter ahead.

19

It was great to discuss this morning about Sustainable Finance with the excellent participants of the Allianz Global Investors - “Global Finance for Future Leaders" programme facilitated by the Executive Education at Cambridge Judge Business School at the Cambridge Judge Business School. I would like to thank the participants for their insightful and productive participation. #SustainableFinance | #ESG | #CJBS | #ResponsibleInvesting | #Biodiversity

33

2 Comments

Private sector activity dips for first time in 4 months

3

An important paper prepared by KPMG in April 2024 looking at the challenges and opportunities facing smaller banks and building societies in the UK in terms of the implementation of the new resolvability and exit strategies namely the Bank of England’s (BoE’s) Resolvability Assessment Framework (RAF) which has now expanded to cover such smaller sized institutions. According to KPMG, the factors which can contribute to a potential bank failure have evolved considerably since the RAF was established. Customers are now able to withdraw their funds rapidly at the first sign of stress or perceived financial instability, whether these relate to concerns about a bank's solvency, liquidity or overall financial health. This can exacerbate financial stress for a bank, leading to liquidity challenges and potentially triggering a broader crisis of confidence in the banking system.  #GRC #operationalresilience #resolvability #financialstress #businessdisruption #recoveryplan #riskmanagement #solvency #liquidity #riskmanagement #riskmitigation #regulatoryrequirements #futurerisk #UK #financialstability #bankrun #deposits #markets #education #knowledge

3

At PwC UK, our recent CEO survey revealed that 75% of UK organisations are actively planning or delivering a transformation project focused on sustainability. With pressure from customers and stakeholders alike, #PrivateBusinesses can unlock numerous benefits from embracing net zero transformation, and in his blog post, Chris Temple talks about these benefits, alongside the changing regulations and increasing market pressures that businesses must contend with.

2

Market brief - 1st Nov Market reaction to the Budget has been pretty muted and the wider verdict has been it was unnecessarily tough on businesses.  The IMF think her £40bn tax grab should boost growth sustainably and they commended the government for the commitment to reduce UK debts over the longer term. Sterling is more driven by monetary policy and where a rate cut is seen as more likely at next week’s MPC meeting, we fell to 1.2845 against the dollar yesterday. This week has been all about employment data. JOLTS job openings were down, ADP job creation was way over forecast at 233k new jobs. Weekly jobless claims were close to a 6-monthly low and Challenger job cuts fell from over 72k in September to just under 60k in October.  Last month, payrolls data smashed forecast with a big win for #TeamOver with 254k new jobs Vs 140k forecast This month the forecast is 113k and I’m be leading out #TeamOver. I’m in at 200k Good luck! #Finance #FxPlew #news

40

110 Comments

Read my most recent article!

19

🗣 Is the global economy rebounding, pushing the probabilities of a recession even lower? Matt Dalton, Forvis Mazars in the UK's Consumer Sector Lead, makes his monthly review of the ONS Retail sales data. Read Matt's full monthly commentary ➡ https://lnkd.in/e5n-DFFp #ConsumerInsights #ONSRetailSalesFigures

3