Discounts for additional tickets:
When you book your first ticket your booking confirmation email will include a 20% discount code for you to share with colleagues at your own HEI so when the code is used on any additional bookings from the same HEI they will be discounted by 20% (i.e. additional bookings will cost £76 plus VAT when using the code). Therefore, if you have several bookings to make for your HEI, ensure you book a single ticket first, wait for the discount code in the confirmation email and then book the other tickets. If you are likely to have several bookings from your HEI, please co-ordinate this process before any bookings are made if possible, to avoid the need for refunds as much as possible.
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You can now book your place on our Management Accountants week taking place from the 22-25 November. We will be hosting a series of webinars across a range of topics which we hope you will find interesting and valuable to you and your team members.
09.30-10.30. Welcome followed by UK HE Policy Update - Dr Sally Burtonshaw, Head of Policy, London Higher.
Dr. Sally Burtonshaw, Head of Policy at London Higher will provide an insight into the current (and everchanging!) political context, what the new Prime Minister and ministerial appointments could mean for higher education, and what the key issues impacting the sector will be over the coming months. Sally is very happy to take questions as part of the session on any of the current challenges and concerns of BUFDG members.
11.00-12.00. The current HE landscape and what this means for university finance - Erica Conway, Chief Financial Officer, University of Birmingham.
Erica will give her insight into what is happening in the world of HE and the implications for finance functions in HE.
13.00-14.00. Designing data dashboards for finance - Alan Rutter, Fire Plus Algebra.
The communication of data is moving rapidly from slide decks and printed reports to dynamically updated dashboards. There are huge advantages to employing these self-serve data displays, but they create additional challenges for analysts and finance professionals. This workshop will provide insight into best practice approaches to designing dashboards (regardless of the software used), and common pitfalls to avoid. It will cover: understanding the purpose of a dashboard: tactical, analytical or strategic; applying the right criteria about what to include (and what to leave out); - making smart chart choices for dynamic data; using interactivity and layers of information and deploying, testing and iterating dashboards.
14.30-15.30. Live and dynamic financial reporting to budget holders using Power BI - Noah Herr, Financial Planning Lead, Institute of Cancer Research
In 2022, the Institute of Cancer Research launched new financial reporting tools to budget holders using Microsoft Power BI. These live and dynamic tools have been credited with “transforming” the information that budget holders receive on their budgets, and have demonstrably led to better engagement with and management of budget portfolios. This session will include a demo of the tool, as well as some reflections and lessons learned from its development.
16.00-17.00. Will my job be taken by a robot? - David Culley, Future Finance Training
The future of finance is being revolutionised by advances in digital technology. Research from Oxford University estimates that 95% of an accountant’s current role will be automated by 2033. This webinar explains how and why digital technology is impacting on the finance function. It uses the latest institute research to demonstrate how the skills being demanded from accountants are changing and what the implications are for those of us working in the profession.
09.30-10.30. Building bots and creating capacity- Vicki Jackson, Finance Director and Claire Kennedy, Head of Finance Systems and Change, University of Sheffield
Like many, we are constantly seeking better ways of working and the creation of capacity to focus on initiatives where we can add value and utilise our skills and expertise. Most jobs have repetitive tasks which we can automate through the use of 'software robots' which streamline business processes, and which can range from the simple to the complex. During the last 12 months we've started to really explore this, so for those of you thinking about embracing automation or 'bots' in the future we will share with you our objectives, experiences, and the lessons we have learnt.
11.00-12.00. Business writing: how to increase your impact with less effort - Emma Scott-Smith, Heliotrope
As knowledge workers, were part of a ‘decision factory’ that deals in information. We literally work with words – thinking, analysing, absorbing, reporting, advising. Yet too few people continue to develop their writing skills once they hit the working world. How confident are you about getting your message across? Not just hoping that your readers are clear what steps they need to take next. Because that’s what business writing is all about: helping others to make decisions or take action. When you improve your writing ability, your communications have more impact- becoming easier to absorb and act on. And you become less stressed and gain more time for your role.
13.00-14.00. How Management Accountants can save the world! Sustainability vs Finance - Mark Warner, Sustainability Manager, Leeds Beckett University
With the increasing focus and challenge of sustainability in universities, Mark takes us through how the challenges and opportunities are approached at Leeds Beckett University. The session will include: sustainability vs all the other priorities, is sustainability the key to the 4th and 5th Industrial Revolution? and financial modelling to strategic advice, key stages where you can influence sustainability from top to bottom.
14.30-15.30. The current economic climate - Jeavon Lolay, Head of Economics and Market Insight, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking
A summary of the main global and UK economic and market themes to consider in the year ahead.
16.00-17.00. Adding value beyond your current role - Becoming a school governor with any finance experience - Suzy Broadhead, Head of Employer and Volunteer Engagement and Dominic Judge, Director of Governance Programmes, Inspiring Governance
This session looks at how to become a governor through the DfE funded Inspiring Governance recruitment service. Inspiring Governance has placed nearly 6,000 skilled professionals in schools and the service continues to have high demand from schools for governors from the education sector and from those with other valuable skills and experience eg Finance, Procurement, HR, Estates and Facilities Management.
There are also great benefits to you, with 97% of newly appointed governors recommending becoming a governor to a friend or colleague and three quarters saying that they learn new professional skills to transfer back into the workplace. If you have ever thought you might want to become a school governor or are interested in finding out what you could gain from becoming part of a strategic school board, please do attend this session that we have arranged for BUDFG members.
09.30-10.30. The current HE Landscape, what does the future hold? Kim Frost, University Trustee and Consultant
This session will take a step back to survey some of the challenges facing the sector including the student contract, finances, the after-effects of the pandemic, the Office for Students (friend or foe?), the demand for places and the impact of international students, industrial relations, the public perception of the sector, and will end by considering what the sector is for and our role in that debate.
11.00-12.00. Contracting and negotiating with your stakeholders - Judith Strange, Director, Develop Global
To build our understanding our confidence to effectively contract and negotiate with stakeholders by looking at: who are the stakeholders we might want to contract and negotiate with? What we mean by contracting and negotiation. What we might want to contract about. The benefits of contracting and negotiation as an approach. A simple process for effective contracting and negotiation. The mindset required and some top tips.
13.00-14.00. Monthly Reporting -our steps to simpler, more impactful accounts for our institution - Peter Fotheringham, Director of Finance and Susan Young, Head of Financial Accounting, University of Dundee
The University of Dundee will talk you through their journey from a traditional set of management accounts with a lot of content and time resource heavy, to a more streamlined, relevant and future focused set of accounts that are also quicker to produce. Peter will talk you through the steps they took, and hope to lead discussion and sharing in this interactive session. Please bring your own thoughts and ideas and be ready to share your own experiences.
14.30-15.30. HE Pensions, what is the latest? - Rebeca Dodd, Partner at Mercer and Stuart McLean, Head of Pensions, UUK
Rebecca Dodd, Head of Mercer’s Higher Education Group and Stuart McLean, Head of Pensions at Universities UK, will take you on a whistle stop tour of what’s been happening, what might be coming and what actions HE institutions have been taking in the world of pensions in Higher Education. Rebecca will consider LGPS, TPS and the local schemes and Stuart will focus on USS.
16.00-17.00. Course Costing Review - A summary of what has been established through the project - Alan Bates, Higher Education Consultant
Alan takes us through the objectives, approach and highlights of the forthcoming BUFDG Course Costing publication.
09.30-10.30. Creative and innovative thinking skills - Claire Harvey, Anatta
Creativity and innovation are essential for any organization if you want to keep your moving forward, but also provides an opportunity for your team to generate excitement, passion and creativity which is positive for team culture. In this session, we will gain a deeper understanding on how to develop creative and innovative thinking rhythms in your team.
11.00-12.00. Saying 'No' - Alice Frick, Consultant, Develop Global
Increase capability and confidence to say ’No’ effectively whilst maintaining a good relationship. The session will cover: Identifying the situations where we might want to say ‘no’. Analysing situations when we have to say ’No’ and challenges why it feels difficult to say ’No’. Learning tools and techniques how to say ’No’ and how to handle differences. It will be an interactive session to help understand and explore communication techniques.
12.15-13.00. CIMA’s Finance Leadership Programme – a new pathway to get qualified’? Kevin Gormley, CIMA
Learn more about the new digital pathway to attain your CGMA qualification with CIMA; The Finance Leadership Programme. Kevin Gormley will give an introduction and overview of this new innovative platform and how CIMA students and employers are adopting this to attain CGMA
13.00-14.00. Mindfulness - Tom Mackay, Senior Lecturer
To introduce participants to Mindfulness and how it can help enhance their health and well-being. Mindfulness can help you improve your focus, learn how to deal with distracting thoughts and has been shown to help with both mental and physical health. The session will cover: introduction to Mindfulness; how Mindfulness can benefit you and your life and mindfulness practice and how to further your knowledge of Mindfulness
14.30-15.30. Positive communication and relationship building - Claire Harvey, Anatta and Event close
Getting communication right leads to better relationships closer cohesion between people within a team and throughout an organisation and departments. But positive communication isn’t purely about speaking. It’s about understanding different communication styles, listening, body language, tone, adapting your message to the situation and a myriad of other nuanced factors. In this session we will explore how to be intentional and ensure your communication is as effective as it can be.
Delegates just need to purchase one ticket to access all the sessions. This will allow access to all the recorded sessions and resources should you miss any throughout the week. Tickets cost £95 plus VAT, however, there will be a 20% discount for additional tickets for staff at the same HEI (see details below). For any queries on the event, please contact rachel@bufdg.ac.uk
Tagged : Management Accounting, Business Partner, bufdghomeevent, Annual Conference
Type : Conference
Please contact info@bufdg.ac.uk for more information
