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Every article from your latest print edition of CA Magazine

January 2010

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Failure to act will be costlier still

Every UK household faces an exposure of £40,000 as a result of the banking crisis. But how do we ensure something like this could never happen again?

For the next generation

Mike Hathorn argues that coming clean on the fiscal sustainability of public policy is something we owe to the citizens of the future

Lead by example

It is vital that CAs in business should carry on leading from the front

Haines invests to remain close to clients

The Edinburgh office of accountancy firm Haines Watts has announced its merger with the Fife-based firm Norman Berry

Reform of Code under discussion

The annual re-election of the chairman or of the whole board is one proposal by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) in its plans to reform the UK’s Corporate Governance Code (formerly the Combined Code)

Growing pains for statements

The length of companies’ audited financial statements has increased by 57 per cent in the past four years, according to Deloitte

Accounting fraud is major problem for companies

Middle managers who are defrauding employers to maintain their living standards are contributing to the fastest growing economic crime experienced by organisations in the UK and the world

New index

The UK200Group, which represents 110 firms including mid-tier accountancy practices, has put together its own company valuation index to measure the value of small and medium sized businesses

Walker review targets disclosure for banks’ high earners

Big banks will have to reveal how many of their UK employees are paid more than £1m under recommendations published today by Sir David Walker

Praise for CA and website

Both CA Magazine and its website www.camagonline.co.uk won awards of excellence in the Scottish Magazine Awards, held in November run by PPA

Book review

The 100 by Simon Maier and Jeremy Kourdi (Marshall Cavendish, £12.99)

Bosses beware

Employees may have more loyalty towards their friends than their firms, according to a survey which found that a third would pass on confidential company information if it could help their pals find a new position

There's no place like home

In the darkness of January, as we crawl out of recession, it’s tempting to dream about a new start overseas. But despite difficult conditions, the majority of Scottish companies still believe the UK is the best place for business

Business travel

New airline from Scandinavia

Letters: ID proof farcical for new auditor

Is there nothing the Institute can do about the complete nonsense that is required when a company changes its auditors? The situation is becoming farcical

Office Auntie

Treated as a junior, not an equal

Something for everyone

Craig Lovatt introduces the 2010 range of courses from ICAS, with a broad range of topics and delivery formats that means there should be content to meet everyone’s training requirements

Ups & downs

Interest rates, tax hikes, the property slump and the spectre of a double dip recession have placed added pressure on making solid investment decisions. CA Magazine’s panel of experts give their views on which direction to take

The incredible shrinking tax relief

Thanks to the 2009 Budget, high earners can expect a reduction in the tax advantages of their pensions. As a result, advisors will likely steer these clients to alternatives for retirement provision

Strap in for a risky ride

Company directors are increasingly aware of the need for insurance in a risky and litigious world but, Andrew Beach asks, do they take sufficient care to read the small print and to see whether their insurance provides all the protection they need?

Share the strain

Richard Goslan discovers the advantages of having – or being – a good mentor in business, no matter what stage your career is at

Interview: Judy Wagner

Understanding what makes senior management teams tick is vital to success in executive search and selection, Judy Wagner tells Robert Outram

A light at the end?

The leading banks can triple their profits by 2012 if they follow the right strategy

Come in Mister Bond

Issuing bonds is increasingly looking like a viable alternative to senior debt. Robert Outram looks at the pros and cons

Life blood

Richard Goslan finds asset-based lending emerging as an alternative to a traditional bank loan

Facing up to leadership

In their third and final article on findings from their research into corporate values, Andy Boddice and Peter Robinson conclude that leadership and culture are critical factors for an organisation’s success or failure

Hope floats

Risk management in financial services is facing increasing scrutiny. Graeme Yell discusses why previous processes haven’t worked and makes some recommendations on what will make risk work in the future

PBR: Borrowing is 'eye-watering'

Alistair Darling’s Pre-Budget Report had good news for bingo players but for few others. Richard Goslan and Robert Outram report

PBR: Of national interest

An assault on bankers’ bonuses and a scrappage scheme for old boilers were the measures that caught the headlines in Alistair Darling’s 2009 Pre-Budget Report (PBR), but the change that will affect most people and businesses is arguably a further hike in national insurance to meet the cost of controlling the public sector deficit

PBR: Darling hits out at banking bonuses

As widely expected, the PBR included a measure targeted at banking bonuses. Banks, not their employees, will be liable to a levy of 50 per cent on bonus payments over £25,000

Come on board

Plans to reform the Corporate Governance Code aim to improve the performance of board members and enhance accountability to shareholders

Guidance on audit committees and actuarial information

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published two documents highlighting the challenges being faced by audit committees and users of actuarial information arising from the difficult economic conditions

ASB issue improvements Leap pad to Financial Reporting Standards 2009

Convergence between UK and international financial reporting standards has moved a further step forward with the Accounting Standards Board’s publication of Improvements to Financial Reporting Standards 2009

Feedback on pensions reporting proposals

The Accounting Standards Board (ASB) has floated suggestions for reform in pensions accounting. The aim of the report, The Financial Reporting of Pensions: Feedback and Redeliberations, is to provide the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) with recommendations prior to developing a future financial reporting standard on pensions

Good governance of pension schemes

The Pensions Regulator has launched a campaign aimed at encouraging good governance and administration and better management of pension scheme risks. A statement published alongside results of the 2009 pension scheme governance survey outlines the regulator's key focus areas

When it's time to say goodbye

A compromise agreement can be the best way to part company with an employee but, warns Kim Pattullo, this is an area of the law that holds many potential pitfalls

Charity matters

Christine Scott looks at some of the major developments in law and regulation affecting the not-for-profit sector

Don't make a meal of it

Recording employee benefits on the P11D form ranks as one of the most onerous pieces of paperwork in the tax year. Peter Fry has some ideas that could make it less painful in the future

Sir David Tweedie nominated as vice-president of ICAS

Sir David Tweedie, chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), has been nominated as ICAS vice-president

Recession focuses attention on reducing waste

Nearly seven out of ten Scottish businesses have developed a more detailed knowledge of their spending and resource use during the recession

Isobel Sharp joins the board at IPSA

ICAS past president Professor Isobel Sharp CBE has been appointed as a board member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), an independent body created by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009

East and west meet on common ground

Two senior Chinese academics completed internships at ICAS last year as part of a programme jointly developed by ICAS and the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CICPA)

SCABA is here to help

Robert Linton explains why the work of the Scottish Chartered Accountants’ Benevolent Association today is as important as it has ever been

Professional dilemmas

Ian Paterson Brown explains how a new set of ethical case studies issued by ICAS should help focus attention on the profession’s values, and encourage discussion

Leading CAs consider lessons from the crisis

One year on past the height of the financial crisis – what have we learned? That was the question addressed by a panel of leading CAs hosted by ICAS at the Glasgow headquarters of PricewaterhouseCoopers with an audience of CAs in December

Notice of election of office bearers and the Council of the Institute

The rules require that a notice of impending election of members for the vacancies which are about to occur be published. The notice follows:

In memoriam: Bruce Weatherstone

Constancy and loyalty were enduring qualities in Bruce Weatherstone's life, demonstrated by his 55 years of marriage to Elaine