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AML – Client On-Boarding and Customer Due Diligence Considerations 

Speaker: Elaine Jackson – OmniPro Practice Support 

Time: 09:00 – 09:50

No Accountant, Solicitor, Tax Advisor, or any other person in business wants to risk their hard-earned reputation by ending up in the unfortunate circumstance of being “The Accountant/Tax Advisor of a company used as a front for a criminal gang”. 

This is a headline that many of us have seen. 

It is hard to recover from that type of association.

So, as they say; prevention is better than cure. 

During this webinar, you will be provided with guidance on the Client On-Boarding Process and the application of Customer Due Diligence.

In this session, Elaine Jackson will cover the following topics:

• Client onboarding – Key elements of the process
• Simplified Customer Due Diligence
• Normal Customer Due Diligence
• Enhanced Customer Due Diligence
• Effective Processes for Customer Due Diligence reviews

By attending this session, you will be able to complete your client onboarding and customer due diligence process more efficiently, effectively and most importantly – correctly.

 The Importance of Credit Management in Every Business

Speaker: Tracey Westell – Pecunia Ltd

Time: 09:55 – 10:45

Historically, Credit management has been considered as a back-office function within businesses, and, although I am pleased to say this has now changed, there are still some people/organisations who think this role and department as unimportant and even negative because credit control departments:

• Chase debts
• Stop sales

However, the true fundamentals of credit management are the foundation of every single business worldwide that trade on credit terms.

This topic is so important, because, without robust credit control processes (from onboarding clients to recoveries) firms are likely to experience major liquidity and debt issues. Businesses assume that accountants deal with all forms of business finance, including credit control; however, as we know these areas are very separate.

Tracey Westell will explain what the benefits of adhering to the principles of credit management are for an organisation, how accountants can recognise red flags and why is it so important to ensure that they and their clients can speak to the right experts and help safeguard businesses and jobs in the future. In turn, Tracey will outline how this aids both the accountants and their clients. 

By attending this session, you will learn/understand/be able to identify what true issues your clients may be facing now and in the future.  How you can help and who would be best to refer to, to help assist your client from not reaching their potential.

Common Financial Reporting Issues 

Speaker: Edward Rands – ECR Professional

Time: 11:00 – 11:50

The quality of financial statements receives increasing attention from the FRC and professional bodies.   Regulatory scrutiny will only increase as the FRC transforms into the new regulator, the Auditing and Reporting Governance Authority.  This webinar will help accountants to improve the quality of the financial statements which they produce, and avoid some of the most common pitfalls.

In this session, Edward Rands will cover the following:

• Background to the FRC’s review activities;
• The “top 10” issues identified;
• Revenue recognition;
• Statements of Cash Flows;
• Impairment of assets; and
• Provisions and contingencies.

By attending this session, you will be able to improve the quality of the financial statements you produce, and avoid some of the most common financial reporting pitfalls.

Buying and Selling a Business – A Practical Guide

Speaker: Aly Young – Aly Young Law

Time: 11:55 – 12:45

Buying or selling a business is a tricky process, whatever the reasons you or your clients are embarking on the process. You might be helping your client retire and disappear off into the sunset, clinking champagne. Or your client might be facing a fire sale in a desperate situation. On many occasions, it will be the first time your client has been through such a transaction. And like buying and selling a house, it can be enormously stressful. By the end of this course, you will be aware of some common pitfalls and be able to advise your client on the things to look out for to reduce both your stress levels and make for a smoother transaction.

In this session, Aly Young will cover the following topics:

1. Structure of the transaction – asset or share sale? Legal implications
2. Risks of deferred or conditional consideration
3. Benefits of Heads of Terms
4. Due diligence = warranties/indemnities
5. Contract process and post completion matters

By attending this session, you will understand and be able to advice your clients on the transaction process and help ensure their deal goes as smoothly as possible and ensure they get the best outcome.

This session will be of most interest to corporate finance, accountants, tax advisers and business owners.

This is a Foundation level course

Using a Coaching Style to Enhance Leadership Skills & Performance 

Speaker: Maura Dolan – LECI

Time: 13:30 – 14:20

Some managers and leaders get to where they are through a good work ethic, learning the ropes and becoming technical experts. However, these skills alone are not enough to lead, develop your workforce and achieve maximum performance. To truly lead one must learn effective coaching techniques. 

Adopting a coaching style put the employees in the driver’s seat, empowering them to make their own choices, problem solve and analyse and take responsibility. 

Coaching is a key factor in building a successful workforce, professional development should not only include coaching but also teach managers, leaders and team members how to coach and how to use coaching skills effectively. 

In this session, Maura Dolan will cover the following:

• Difference between coaching & mentoring
• Definition of Coaching
• How using a coaching style
• How coaching conversations adds value to performance
• Understanding Basic Coaching skills

By attending this session, you will:

• Learn how to use a coaching style conversation in the workplace to enhance performance
• Develop an understanding of coaching skills and a coaching model
• Gain knowledge of how to enhance performance and effectiveness in the workplace

A Topical Company Law Update 

Speaker: Claire Thomson – OmniPro Practice Support

Time: 14:25 – 15:15

Following the UK Government’s consultations on the roles and responsibilities of the Registrar of Companies in 2020-21, this session will take a high-level look at the changes that will be implemented over the next few years, and how those will impact accountants working with all UK entities. The session will also include a look at the new Register of Overseas Entities, launching this year.  

Topics covered by Claire Thomson on this session will include:

• Companies House Reform – an overview
• The new Register of Overseas Entities
• AGMs – should they be held virtually, in-person or hybrid?
• People with Significant Control – a reminder of your obligations

Monitoring Visits: Non-Audit Files 

Speaker: Colm Owens & Claire Thomson – OmniPro Practice Support

Time: 15:30 – 16:20

In this session, Colm Owens and Claire Thomson will consider what reviewers look for on monitoring visits in relation to non-audit files. This will be of interest to accountants who are expecting a monitoring visit in the near future which may include a non-audit element (or be a non-audit monitoring visit in itself) and to all accountants for on-going compliance and best practice. Monitoring visits can be stressful events, so being well-prepared can make them go much smoother and help to ensure they go well.

The following topics will be covered:

• Audit-exempt criteria & who can claim audit-exemption?            
• Audit-exempt files – the requirements
• Audit-exempt financial statements
• Monitoring visits – common issues

By attending this you will be able to improve the quality of your non-audit files.

Crypto - A Deep Dive 

Speaker: Joe David – Myna Accountants

Time: 16:25 – 17:15

In this session, Joe David will provide and in-depth exploration into the world of Crypto – exploring the technical aspect of the virtual currency.