This month, our main interview is with Hilde Blomme FCCA, deputy chief executive of Accountancy Europe. It is, she says, ‘never a dull moment’ running the umbrella organisation that brings together finance professionals from all over the continent. For instance, she is currently helping the profession come to terms with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which requires nearly 50,000 companies to publish detailed sustainability information under new European Sustainability Reporting Standards, with the first businesses due to report in 2025. According to Blomme, a big question for the profession is whether it has enough people, with the in-depth expertise, to prepare sustainability reporting and provide the necessary assurance. Read what her answers are.
Still on the subject of the EU and sustainability, a new report by Mario Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank, will contribute to the European Commission’s work on a new plan for Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness. Our analysis from Workiva indicates that sustainable competitiveness should require that businesses are productive and environmentally friendly, but it could be an uphill struggle. Read the analysis.
However, other developments are having a positive effect on business. We look at how advances in artificial intelligence continue to shape the future of the profession, including its application to accounts preparation, allowing accountants to focus on verifying rather than constructing financial statements.
Also being transformed by technology is the audit profession, and EY global assurance talent leader Dilek Çilingir sets out her vision of the future.
Finally, this month also sees the launch of ACCA’s annual conference, Accounting for the Future. With the theme of ‘Embracing the disruption’, the three-day event looks at trends and developments affecting professional accountants around the world, including opportunities around new technology, imperatives for sustainability and the new skills needed in this fast-moving landscape. Register to attend live on 26-28 November or on demand.
