Accountants 15th anniversary conference adds up to a celebration
Members of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) travelled from as far as Somerset and Northumberland for the 15th anniversary of the Members in Practice conference recently. What began as a handful of accountants wanting to swap experiences and develop better working practices, has now grown to over 40 attendees. By popular demand, they meet on a Sunday!
This year’s conference agenda included presentations from Lynne Wood, Business Relationship Manager at Business Link, Amanda Chadwick of Peninsula Business Services Ltd. who gave an update on labour law and CA Tax Solutions Ltd speaking on capital allowances.
The main agenda however, is driven by members who are keen to share their expertise. Many have long and illustrious careers in senior financial roles in large organisations. All leave to set up their own business. Topics include members talking on marketing, IT, ‘surviving and thriving’ in a recession, grants and business support. There is always a lively question and answer session.
CIMA member Brian Palmer always wanted to be an accountant. He became a divisional accountant responsible for 20 companies and later a finance director of a 1,000-plus employee concern at the age of 28. Having run his own firm for over twenty years from Heswall, Wirrall he attends the conference; “to build confidence and check I’m doing the right things.” The recession he believes is; “generating redundancies, which generates more start-up businesses that need help”.
As well as being on a Sunday so that the working week doesn’t suffer, the conference is kept very low key and attendees buy their own lunch. Reassuring in these days of minimising accounting fees!
A DVD of the event is available.
Ends – 277 words
Photos & more information at http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/news/CIMA
CIMA North West operates on a regional board structure supported by the operational tier of groups who are responsible for the delivery of services to members and students. The groups are Business, Learning, Education and Development, Student, Networking and Social.
The Honorary Officer roles within the Region are Regional President, Regional Secretary and Regional Treasurer.
More details from Local Event Coordinator, Caroline Webb. Tel: 020 8849 2429 Fax: 020 8849 2455 Email: caroline.webb@cimaglobal.com
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, founded in 1919, is the world’s leading and largest professional body of Management Accountants with 172,000 members and students operating in 165 countries, working at the heart of business. CIMA members and students work in industry, commerce and not-for-profit organisations. CIMA works closely with employers and sponsors leading-edge research, constantly updating its qualification, professional experience requirements and continuing professional development to ensure it remains the employers’ choice when recruiting financially-trained business leaders. CIMA is committed to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards of members and students, and to maintaining public confidence in management accountancy. CIMA is proud to be the first professional accounting body to offer a truly global product in the fast-moving area of Islamic Finance. According to independent research conducted by the University of Bath School of Management, CIMA’s syllabus and examination structure are the most relevant to the needs of business of all the accountancy bodies assessed.
• Members and students work across all business sectors at all levels throughout the world, demonstrating the flexibility of the qualification.
• CIMA has enjoyed 23% membership growth over the last five years, growing from 59,782 in 2002 to 73,356 in 2007.
• 14% of working members are finance directors (including CFOs) and 14% are financial controllers (CIMA Member Survey 2006).
• 7% of working members are chief executive officers, managing directors or other directors (CIMA Member Survey 2006).
• 124 members operate at group board level in the FTSE 350.
• 16% of UK members who are employed are based in the public sector (CIMA Member Survey 2006).
• 34% of members earn 50-99k, whilst 8% earn 100,000K or more (CIMA Member Survey 2006).
• 62% of working members in the UK are employed by an organisation with an annual turnover of 50 million or more (CIMA Member Survey 2006).
• In an independent salary survey conducted by the Robert Walters recruitment agency, ACMAs working in London were found to earn between 11 – 18% more than ACCAs.
CIMA has offices in Australia, Botswana, China, Dubai, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and Zambia.
More information at www.cimaglobal.com
Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CIMA_News
Katie Scott-Kurti, Public Relations Manager, CIMA
+44 (0) 20 8849 2347 Katie.Scott-Kurti@cimaglobal.com
Press Contacts: Jane Harrad-Roberts Mob: 07785 395705
Phil Brotherhood Mob: 07884 493370
Tel: 01244 330000
MARKETING PROJECTS
Email: info@marketingprojects.co.uk
