Good governance is the foundation of every successful business. No matter what level you are in the organisation, you have a part to play in ensuring the governance in your organisation is being conducted properly; you have a responsibility to the shareholders and other stakeholders to make the best decisions for the future of the company and wider society. As an accountant, this role becomes increasingly important as you move to more senior positions.

Accountants are directly involved in the reporting aspect of governance by ensuring that financial reports accurately represent the company’s position. But an accountant’s involvement does not stop there; governance encompasses how an organisation is directed, administered and controlled – aspects of business that accountants are heavily involved in.

This course uses real-world case studies of organisations and their corporate governance to highlight the ways in which you can contribute to employing good corporate governance in your organisation and how to avoid the common risks.

• The six OECD principles of corporate governance to help you understand the core guidelines that underpin institutional, legal and regulatory frameworks worldwide

• The characteristics and roles of an effective board to help you identify where an organisation’s board is performing well and areas for improvement

• Ernst and Young’s four stages for balancing an organisation’s risk appetite with its shareholders’ interests 

• The roles of the audit and risk committees in managing risk in the organisation

• The primary considerations in setting directors’ pay to attract and retain high-quality staff whilst still drive profits in the organisation 

• Six major risks of poor governance and how they can be overcome to help you anticipate serious issues and suggest solutions

• An introduction to risk reporting and how this is typically carried out to provide transparency to the organisation’s various stakeholders on its risk management