The Boardroom Blog

Are UK businesswomen more likely to be CEOs, FDs or in another director role?

Thursday, September 01, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: business, statistics, Board, report, survey, UK, CEO, data, CFO, FD, women, infographic, IBR, finance director, women in business, gender, diversity, International Business Report

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Find out which senior management positions UK businesswomen are getting with our visualisation of data from the 2011 Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR), which reveals the distribution of roles across UK boardrooms.

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We are Auditor of the Year for the second year running!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Governance | Tags: Grant Thornton, survey, FD, finance director, ICAEW, Michael Izza, Phil Crooks, FD Excellance Awards, Audit, Awards

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On Tuesday night, Grant Thornton was announced as the winner of the Auditor of the Year (Large Six) category at The FDs’ Excellence Awards for the second year running.

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UK finance directors report on their key priorities

Wednesday, January 05, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, investment, report, survey, risk, data, advice, CFO, FD, talent, Directorbank, finance director, analysis, skills

If you could ask a fellow finance director for their advice in the current economy, what do you think they would say? A number of outstanding finance directors shared their views in Grant Thornton’s FD survey, researched in conjunction with Directorbank.

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How should an FD be incentivised?

Wednesday, December 08, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, report, survey, data, CFO, FD, talent, Directorbank, incentives, finance director, analysis, private equity, skills, stake, Plc

There were some differences in how the directors thought an FD should be incentivised, against the views of the outstanding FDs themselves, according to Grant Thornton’s recent survey, researched in conjunction with Directorbank

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How does private equity drive FD behaviours?

Thursday, December 02, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, report, survey, M&A, data, advice, CFO, FD, investors, Directorbank, finance director, analysis, private equity, skills, shareholders, risk attitude

Private equity remains a significant part of the UK economy and is often under the microscope. It remains a dominant force in the M&A market. In our survey of 350 directors, we asked whether having a stake in a private equity business drives different behaviours – 70% of them said that it does.

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How does an FD gain commercial skills?

Wednesday, December 01, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, report, survey, data, advice, CFO, FD, talent, Directorbank, finance director, analysis, skills, commercial, experience

Understanding the business and getting as much commercial exposure as early as possible is critical for becoming a successful FD, according to Grant Thornton’s recent survey, researched in conjunction with Directorbank. But how? A number of outstanding finance directors share their views…

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Unsung heroes: Grant Thornton and Directorbank recognise outstanding FDs

Wednesday, November 24, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: Grant Thornton, report, survey, CEO, data, CFO, interview, FD, Directorbank, video, finance director, analysis, Swag Mukerji, John Pearce, Roger Matthews, chair, repor

Finance directors aren’t normally the face of the company, or even seen as big names of the business world, yet it’s often the case that they are the beating heart of a successful company. Our recent What makes an outstanding FD? report, researched in conjunction with Directorbank, highlights that it’s time their worth is recognised. We also interview three directors – including Directorbank’s MD John Pearce (below) who talks about the growing importance of the finance director’s role .

 

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Changing face of risk management in the UK / Ireland

Wednesday, November 17, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Risk | Tags: business, governance, recession, report, survey, UK, strategy, risk, data, business models, risk management, Ireland, appetite, attitudes

Risk appetite statements are a growing trend in the UK, while 84% of surveyed companies in Ireland are changing how they view risk, according to our recent report. Here, two experts from Grant Thornton, review the changing approaches to risk in the UK and Ireland post-recession.

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How to get noticed as an outstanding FD (and get the top jobs)

Friday, November 05, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, report, survey, CEO, data, international, CFO, FD, talent, Directorbank, finance director, skills, commercial, communication, networking, career, chief exec, experience, expertise, accountants

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What FD skills were most highly rated by 350 directors in our new survey, researched in conjunction with Directorbank. Plus, five top finance directors give their views on how to get the top jobs.

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Is your FD a chief exec or chair in waiting?

Thursday, October 28, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, Board, report, survey, CEO, data, CFO, FD, talent, Directorbank, finance director, analysis, skills, career, chief exec, chair, progression, expertise, commerical

Is becoming a CEO or chair a natural progression for an FD? Which is a more suitable role? When doesn’t it work? Find out what 350 directors thought about career paths for finance directors in our FD survey, researched in conjunction with Directorbank.

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Tool: Assess your company’s risk maturity level

Thursday, September 23, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Risk | Tags: business, governance, recession, report, survey, risk, data, business models, Simon Lowe, risk management, questionnaire, tools, Business Risk Services, Strategy

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Our recent business risk report shows widespread complacency in company risk management processes. Check the risk maturity of your organisation with our quick online assessment tool.

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Risk management: learning from recession mistakes

Wednesday, September 22, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Risk | Tags: business, governance, recession, report, survey, strategy, risk, data, business models, Simon Lowe, risk management, questionnaire, tools, Business Risk Services

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Why did so many risk processes fail to protect companies from the worst of the global downturn? And how can senior managers approach risk management afresh to help protect their business in future? Our latest research report has the answers. Plus, check out our tool to assess your own company’s risk maturity.

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Retail strategy – a boardroom review

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: innovation, report, survey, strategy, business models, retail, agenda

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What questions should you be asking this year if you’re sitting on a retail board? Following on from our survey post last week Pressured retailers need to review their business models, here are some suggested questions to bring to your next board meet.

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Pressured retailers must review business model strategy

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research | Tags: innovation, report, survey, business models, boardroom, retail, Strategy

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Insights from our latest sector survey, Pressure unabated: UK retailers contemplate business model change, should fuel boardroom discussions in the competitive UK retail sector, which has experienced a profound shift from the emergence of the internet as both a shop window and a retail outlet.

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FT Non-Executive Director Survey - Understanding the NED

Tuesday, April 06, 2010 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Non-executive director | Tags: survey, FT, non-executive director, recruitment, remuneration, NED

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The Financial Times, in association with Grant Thornton, are undertaking a survey of existing and aspiring non-executive directors in the UK to learn more about this unique sector.

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