It’s a deal: six ways to think about sustainabililty in M&A transactions Some of the most significant risks and opportunities facing businesses today centre on sustainability. As risks, they can result in financial losses and regulatory breaches, and even potentially destroy reputations that have been built up over decades. As opportunities, however, they can spark innovation, help a business stand out in the marketplace, and set it [...]
Hiring this February? You’ll be more successful if you understand the priorities of today’s talent Chances are, some of the most talented people in your organisation are looking for a new job right now. You might even be looking for one yourself. After all, February is renowned for being a busy month for recruiting staff as managers take advantage of new hiring budgets granted at the start of the year. [...]
It starts with a plan: COP28 and the transition to a net zero economy Political and business leaders, along with scientists and many others, are gathering in Dubai for the COP28 UN climate summit to focus on the urgent need for a rapid transition to a lower-emission world. To ensure that we don’t exacerbate existing social inequalities, we also need to ensure this transition is “just”. In other words, [...]
How can we make a success of change management in our ever – changing world? October 26, 2023 Our world is being continually reshaped by shifting economic realities, rapid technological advances, evolving customer expectations and the transition to more sustainable business models. So, it is clear that if we are to drive greater creativity and innovation within our organisations, we need to be highly effective at embracing, managing, and exploiting the force of [...]
Opportunity and risk: why we need ethical accountability in the adoption of AI systems September 14, 2023 We know AI is going to change our world. What we are less sure of is exactly how that change is going to manifest itself. Already, AI-infused innovation has markedly changed our daily lives; think of the facial recognition technology that allows us to unlock our phones, or the map apps that prevent us from [...]
New sustainability reporting standards are a game changer for businesses July 20, 2023 In June, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) published its long-awaited inaugural standards for sustainability reporting. The launch of the standards is widely regarded as a hugely important milestone in the global fight against climate change. By providing a global baseline for businesses to report comparable information on sustainability issues, the new standards should make [...]
Why risk culture could be a competitive advantage for your business May 18, 2023 The recent turmoil in the banking sector has underlined the importance of risk culture as a fundamental component of business resilience. The failures of Credit Suisse, First Republic and other banks are a stark reminder of why we must incorporate risk into governance and strategy. All too often, risk management is associated with compliance and [...]
Mark this Earth Day by investing in green finance skills April 20, 2023 This year’s Earth Day on Saturday should serve as an urgent call to action for businesses. As a community, we must rapidly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and help our society adapt to human-caused climate change. If businesses are to deliver on their sustainability strategies and fund essential innovation, they also need access to well-priced [...]
Making hybrid working work across the City March 9, 2023 Last month, ACCA published our inaugural Global Talent Trends 2023 survey, which shared valuable insights into workplace trends and practices from more than 8,400 professional accountants around the world. We found that out of all the topics covered in the report, hybrid working attracted the most attention. This deep interest in hybrid work models is [...]
Navigating the talent challenge: where should your people priorities lie over the next 12 months? February 9, 2023 The expertise and skills of people underpin the success of virtually every organisation. Yet ongoing skills shortages are often preventing today’s organisations from accessing the vital people they need to innovate and grow. ACCA’s inaugural 2023 Global Talent Trends Survey highlights some of the most pressing people challenges faced by employers globally, including in the [...]
