top of page

Recent sample papers    

< Archive

Tectonic shifts and power-hungry innovation

AI, cyber, autonomous automation and power usage are interwoven on a grand scale and will affect virtually everyone, either directly or indirectly whether they are at work, at home, or on the go.

A quarter century of excellence at ACS

In the fast-paced, ever-evolving landscape of financial services and debt recovery, longevity is a testament to integrity, adaptability, and results.

Opportunity benefits of enterprise storage

Introduction Most enterprises don’t automatically increase their IT budgets year-on-year – the C-Suite often just expects teams to ‘do more with less’.

Coping with the unexpected in the management team

Businesses of all sizes can be severely disrupted by the unplanned and unexpected loss of a key executive, but particularly so when it’s caused by their death or sudden incapacity.

Finding common ground with the CFO on enterprise storage

This article discusses a situation that arises when a chief financial officer (CFO) expresses concerns about an IT department’s proposal to acquire a new storage system for infrastructure upgrade.

​​

Lack of innovation threatens economic growth

The UK is falling in global rankings for innovation, technology, and competitiveness due to persistently low business investment.

​​

The strategic importance of good credit risk management

In a stagnant economy with uncertainty fuelled by global trade challenges and geopolitics, UK businesses are increasingly exposed to complex counterparty risk

The difference between wrongful and fraudulent trading

Abstract The directors of failed companies can be accused of a range of offences, mainly based on contravening their fiduciary duties.

So much for the UK insolvency regime being creditor friendly

The world thinks the UK has an insolvency regime that favours creditors, but the truth is rather different, with negligible or most often no returns for them from the most heavily used liquidation procedure and the terminal decline of the main rescue process. 

World Back UP Day 2025: Protect your enterprises date with next generation Cyber Secure Back Up

Next-gen data protection goes beyond traditional backup, restore and disaster recovery. Putting your enterprise’s data in an air-tight cyber repository is not the same as the conventional means of moving data to an online repository as a backup file. Traditional backup environments are high-value targets for cyber attacks.

International risk management needs a different mindset

Globalization has tempted or forced many UK businesses into looking for trading partners in new overseas markets.

Solving cross-border insolvency issues​

The insolvency world faces shapeshifting, ever more challenging examples of cases with international aspects in a commercial world, which becomes more complex and multinational with every passing year. 

Trade may be globalised, but insolvency regimes are not​

Trade has become ever more global in recent decades, much of it dominated by more and more powerful multinationals with bewilderingly complex corporate structures.

Renewing your offshore company structure​

​For individuals or businesses with offshore companies, it is vital to complete a timely renewal to maintain compliance, if you are to safeguard assets and sustain operational efficiency in 2025. Regular renewal can keep your company up-to-date and compliant with local regulations, avoiding legal or financial repercussions.

 

Maximizing tax efficiency in the new tax year

Now we are well and truly settled into the new tax year for 2024, business owners, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and high net worth individuals in the UK are presented with an opportune moment to reassess their tax strategies, and optimize their financial positions.

Breaking the Growth Barrier: Why businesses must invest in technology

Abstract Recent research by Equals Money reveals that 90% of financial leaders were impacted by the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, with over two-thirds (70%) choosing to delay or cancel planned investments.

Caveat Emptor - buying assets through a Pre-Pack​

Buying a business and its assets through a Pre-Pack Administration process may seem like the short route to a good deal at a beneficial price, but there are some very real risks associated with such transactions.

Is it time to prioritize currency hedging?

In today’s global economy, businesses face an increasingly complex financial landscape.

How businesses can build thriving international growth plans​

Expanding a business internationally is one of the most promising paths to growth, allowing companies to access new markets, diversify their customer base, and seize fresh opportunities.

The commercial immorality of late payments

The UK commercial world is plagued by endemic late payment of bills owed to suppliers, most often delays imposed by large businesses on smaller ones.

 

Forensic accountants and IPs

The Post Office scandal has finally shone a light on the positives that forensic investigators can bring to troubled situations. The valiant forensic experts from Second Sight doggedly exposed the failings of the Horizon system despite all efforts to silence them and have now finally had their say at the Public Inquiry.

Misfeasance trading and the £150 million directors fine

A high profile recent case has created a new offence that directors can be accused of committing – Misfeasance Trading – and one that is easier to prove than the more familiar Wrongful Trading.

Winning business awards

Winning or even being nominated for a business award not only boosts awareness of a company’s brand, products and services helping to gain new customers, but it also boosts staff morale and helps to attract and retain staff – people want to work for award winning businesses. But winning awards isn’t easy – it takes hard work.

Crowdstrike outage - painful loses and reputational risk ​

The CrowdStrike outage has caused huge public service and commercial disruption worldwide

Is the​ Labour win right for business?
The new Labour government has certainly hit the ground running, with the new Chancellor Rachel Reeves leading the charge into the changed economic world so heavily promised during the election campaign.

 

Why good cashflow forecasting is essential in uncertain times

It’s an old business cliché that cash is king, but it’s never truer than when a business and its management are battling with the multiple problems which come with economic and commercial uncertainty.

Uncertain times call for top quality business leadership

There are innumerable theories about what good business leadership looks like. In good times, the momentum of strong revenues, solid profit margins, positive cash generation and thoughtful investment strategies for the future can hide a multitude of management flaws.

Taking virtual payments

Investing in payments is key for businesses to grow, yet many UK firms are still relying on slow, outdated processes such as BACS and invoicing.

Supply chain disruptions - getting ahead of the problems

A malfunctioning supply chain will play havoc with the profitability and viability of any business. It has the potential to alienate customers, it will certainly damage the smooth running of its operations and cause serious financial problems. 

Business reputations - The court of public opinion is right, and denial is always wrong

Reputations in business are hard won, but easily lost and they can be near impossible to rebuild. Better to mould behaviours to mitigate the most obvious risks and deal constructively and openly with problems where they do occur

In conversion with Steve Paul, Equals Money
With AI now shaking up the payments arena, we talk to Steve Paul, Deputy Chief Financial Officer at Equals Money about the challenges and the opportunities facing CFOs across industries as they begin adopting AI and virtual payments, and ask, can AI really drive greater corporate productivity and performance for every industry?
The slippery slope from triumphant profitability to financial disaster
Seeing a business descend from the calm of profitability to the chaos of collapse and liquidation is watching a tragedy that destroys jobs, devastates communities, and imposes losses on stakeholders such as creditors, landlords and lenders.
Cybercrime and the art of possible
Malicious actors with highly sophisticated hacking tools take data hostage and demand enormous ransoms.
Behaving well in your business community
Being a good business citizen is a more productive strategy than acting like a predator.
Why is negative working capital so popular?
A significant percentage of companies across the UK economy now operate with greater short-term liabilities than their ‘quick’ assets. Some consider this to represent a higher commercial risk to the business itself and its stakeholders.
UK business investment lags behind competitors
UK business investment is poor and has been for decades, doing untold damage to productivity and limiting the economy’s growth.
Stopping healthy competition turning into rivalry
Competition is a natural part of doing business. The urge to succeed is hard-wired into entrepreneurs and will always bring them head-to-head with other businesses in their market. What happens next could be positive or it could escalate into bitter rivalry, which damages profitability, heightens risk and threatens reputations.
Coping with a low growth, no growth economy
2023 was a difficult year with little growth, soaring interest rates, record insolvencies and an inflation crisis.
 
Shareholder and management agendas
Shareholder disputes are not common, but they can be devastating. Investors and managers need to understand each other’s objectives, communicate regularly, and maintain an open-minded dialogue, especially when times are hard.
Being a force for good
Storage technology experts by day and humanitarian aid supporters by night.
Borderless data - acting locally, thinking globally
Today’s supply chains require data to be shared. But with the regulatory landscape having never been more complex, data and technology leaders must not only meet new compliance demands, but also rising expectations from their organization to use data to meet business goals.
Does IT infrastructure really matter? YES!
No one would dispute that Information technology has become the backbone of commerce. As IT’s power and presence have expanded, companies have come to view it as a resource ever more critical to their success.
It's not always malware
Threats to data are increasing, yet it is not always about malware attacks.
Can IoT adopters manage the security and privacy challenges in smart utilities?
The utility sector is undergoing a huge transformation, becoming highly connected infrastructures, with millions of endpoints, including smart meters and smart grid devices.
Taking credit management solutions to the next level
When it comes to taking credit management solutions to the next level it’s important to listen to market needs, learn the lessons from processes of the past and build them into the technology solutions of the future.
Business productivity gains
Digital transformation efforts are driving enterprises to refresh and modernize their server, storage, and/or data protection infrastructure, and many are turning to storage systems equipped with solid-state storage.
GDPR - the benchmark for a global privacy network 
The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) set the precedent for privacy and data laws around the world with 71% of countries now having data protection regulations in place and a further 9% with legislation in development.
In conversation with Alex Zerlang and Christian Melby
As Summa Equity (“Summa”) acquires a majority stake in cybersecurity leader Logpoint, we talk to Jesper Zerlang, CEO, Logpoint, and Christian Melby, Summa Equity Partner and Chief Investment Officer, about the next stage in Logpoint’s development.
Improving the bottom line
In the face of continuing economic uncertainty and a recession threat, every company is hyper-focused on cost management and financial performance. Whatever any possible downturn may bring, what is clear is that the CFOs is on the hook to deliver a solution.
Ego gains workflow edge with Esker
Ego Pharmaceuticals reduces invoice processing time with Esker's Accounts Payable solution to improving supplier and employee experience.  Now equipped with customisable dashboards Ego can track invoices at every stage, monitor important KPIs, and gains full process transparency over the invoicing function.

In conversation with Laura Martin, Conga

As Customer Success Director, Laura Martin works closely with c-suite executives and board of directors to develop and execute successful digital programmes to support revenue operations optimization.
Teamwork equals business achievements
Vendors and channel partners can only do well in their businesses when their customers’ businesses are growing too.
 
In conversation with Dr John Bates, SER Group
Demand for digital enterprise content management solutions surged during the pandemic and, as customer expectations and the urgency around enhanced process efficiency continue to soar, many companies are now looking to take such capabilities to the next level.
A new home for SMEs
SME operations changed for good due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as the modern office and workspace carries forward some elements of the hybrid working model that grew so popular during the height of the pandemic there are some fantastic real estate opportunities out there, explains the author of this article.
Offset and greenwashing
There is a growing awareness in business that being greener helps organizations build a reputation for doing the right thing, creating a positive effect in the world, as well as giving them a considerable competitive edge.
How CFOs can secure savings by focusing on indirect spend
Rationalizing indirect spend is an area that, provided you have the right tools, is a perfect area for cost optimization.
Cyber insurance and loss prevention
In a world where cyber threats are varied (and constantly changing), cyber insurance can protect organizations from losses due to security incidents.
Getting the board IPO ready
To succeed, companies need to view divestitures in a way that goes beyond the traditional M&A approaches. In this article the author explains more about the process – and why a combination of skills and relationships are needed to make public ownership a success.
Carbon Accounting and Offsetting
This article attempts to provide some hope and a layman’s explanation of some of the terminology, the causes of climate change and the actions that every business can take and the easy steps that are available to address these seemingly insurmountable issues.
Pharmeceuticals: Maintaining compliance as regulated apps move off premise
As pharmaceutical companies become more confident and ambitious in their use of the cloud to host, run and source applications, more recently extending the model to regulated applications, important considerations arise – particularly around associated systems validation and data governance.
Esker improves CX at Fujifilm
As a leading provider in offering smarter ways to work with document-related solutions and services, Fujifim Business Innovation Corporation, struggling to cope with manually processing an average of 32,500 invoices each month, but has now transformed its operations using Esker's accounts receivable solutions.
Book Review: "Civil Justice after COVID - a change for the better?"
Mention law books and many an executive’s eye will glaze over. Often seen as dry and uninspiring, most legal books will be the ideal cure for insomnia.
 
Driving innovation in transport systems
Just as employees are being rallied by the Government to return to the workplaces and adapt to the new ‘norm’ of living with the Covid Omicron virus, it is feared that safety concerns around social distancing could push commuters away from trains despite the green agenda.
Opportunities in a fractured European marketplace
Euronext’s recent announcement of its intended move from the Basildon data centre, in the UK, to Bergamo in Italy, is making waves amongst equity market participants.
Book Review - The Muffin Man Chronicles - Recipes for Entrepreneurial Success
When it comes to entrepreneurship, there are many inspiring stories. But Steve Marks’ book “The Muffin Man Chronicles – Recipes for entrepreneurial success” certainly has the edge on all of them.
 
Perfecting revenue recognition - a business imperative
Despite the ASC 606 and IFRS 15 standards deadlines of 2017 and 2018 respectively, many public and privately held companies are still not compliant.
WFH and what it means to your taxes
Businesses around the world are seeing the substantial benefits of remote working post-Covid 19. 
Behavioural Biometrics and customer identity fraud
With synthetic identity fraud on the rise, behavioural biometrics enable banks to balance customer experience and fraud prevention.
 
Open banking - are you ready to become a banking ecosytem?
Open banking is enabling new ways for people to manage their money. Financial products and services that deliver better outcomes, have the ability for consumers to see on one screen all their accounts, complete with credit scores, to more accurately reflect who they are, and to safeguard any financially vulnerable.
YourDMS transforms FJ Chalke
With showrooms throughout Somerset, FJ Chalke continues to grow, but like most businesses that experience rapid growth, the challenges of managing increased amounts of paperwork become a much larger task.  With help from YourDMS (www.yourdms.net), FJ Chalke are transforming its operations"
The value of opinion-based content
Tumultuous times for brands and businesses such as those that the pandemic has created, shifted more attention to the marketing department. Budgets need to convert to ROI – and fast – else marketers will be shown the door.
Preventing fraud in Accounts Payable - how technology can help
Fraud within the Accounts Payable department is more common than most businesses think, explains the author of this article. With an estimated 5% of every company’s annual revenue lost each year due to fraudulent activities, a loss of revenue is not the only problem businesses face.
On campus, colocation, or in the cloud?
Higher education and research organizations faced with challenges for urgent digitization of their applications and data platforms, are now moving their IT infrastructure off-campus and into a purpose build data centre to ensure that their IT works harder for less.

 

Recovery in Sight After Pandemic Disrupts Global Trade

The pandemic hasn't changed trade forever but it has accelerated trends that would have taken up to two decades to emerge. It has also rocked the global economic climate and trading environment to its core.
How to launch a thriving B2B marketplace
One of the current most hotly debated issues in corporate marketing revolves around Purpose. It seems we are all striving to find out what is the purpose of Corporate Purpose and how personal purpose can be reflected in the values and actions of the businesses we represent: as leaders, teams and partners.

What is the purpose of corporate purpose?

One of the current most hotly debated issues in corporate marketing revolves around Purpose. It seems we are all striving to find out what is the purpose of Corporate Purpose
Breaking the AI glass ceiling
In a world driven by connections, graph algorithms provide one of the most potent approaches to analyzing connected data because they are specifically built to operate on relationships.
Customer insights
Today, your customers are more self-sufficient – and more in control – than ever before. Subscriptions, renewals, and repeat customers are totally dependent on delivering both immediate value and a differentiating experience, where one not-so perfect exchange could lead a customer straight to your competitor.
Modifying business processes for the new different
It is paramount that CEOs can re-work their business processes to get clarity on strategic direction for the business moving forward. This short and long-term view is invaluable in better managing an enterprise’s resources and day-to-day operations.
Social media and data
Society’s relationship with data has permanently changed explains Tom Andrews at Rightly.
In a business full of acronyms, why are ABM MDM and DEP so important?
There is a new range of acronyms in town – DEP, MDM and ABM. But what do they mean and why do they matter?

bottom of page