Conferences and events

Free members seminar: Where auditors fear to tread

1 July, 2009
10.00 - 15.30
East Thames Group, 29-35 West Ham Lane, Stratford E15 4PH

Our next siminar aims to cover areas that traditionally may not get as much, or as deep audit coverage, as they perhaps deservce.
The timetable is:
 
10.00   Coffee on arrival

10.30   Forum HIAF Business

10.45    “Marketing or How to Audit the Impossible” – Sandra Malone, Grant Thornton UK LLP

‘Unaccountable, Expensive, Untouchable and Slippery’ and that’s just what a Cranfield University survey had to say about marketing! This session will guide you through the mysteries of marketing; the risks around marketing; the best way to approach an audit in this area; tips to avoid the ‘pulling the wool’ moments, and a few eye-watering examples of how audits in marketing deliver real bottom line results.

Sandra has been on ‘the dark side’. She doesn’t ‘do numbers’ and she’s not an accountant, but she is a global marketer who for many years worked around the world in high profile marketing roles. For the past five years, she has managed a  marketing consultancy practice, including audits, for both the public sector and commercial clients for Grant Thornton UK LLP. The Times Higher Education Supplement called her a ‘marketing guru’ and the ‘Wall Street Journal’ said she ‘put the marketing verve back into the 3Com Corporation’.

Grant Thornton UK LLP is a leading financial and business advisory firm providing assurance and advisory services to the public and commercial sectors, including many Registered Providers of social housing.

11.30   Coffee and “Discussion Session”

A chance for you to participate in a group discussion into whether or not it is appropriate for internal auditors to directly contact residents and other customers as part of the internal audit process.

12.00    “Freedom of Information” -  Clare Rees, Tenant Services Authority

Freedom of Information does not affect Housing Associations, or does it?  Clare explains the current impact of Freedom of Information on housing associations and future trends.

Clare Rees is Information and Complaints Manager at the Tenant Services Authority.

The Tenant Services Authority was set up as a result of the 2008 Housing and Regeneration Act. The Tenant Services Authority regulates of social housing.

12.45    Lunch

13.30    "Risk Management Culture" – Ian Howse, Deloitte LLP

The Internal Audit service you provide may be risk based, and your audit plan may include a review entitled Risk Management, but how do you go about auditing the risk management culture of your organisation.

Ian Howse is a Director of Deloitte LLP, based at Cardiff.

Deloitte LLP provides Audit, Tax, Consulting and Corporate Finance services, to a number of housing associations.

14.15    Coffee

14.30  “Insurance” – Michael Hutchison, Zurich

When was the last time you looked at your Housing Associations’ Insurance Policy.  Do you know if all the policy requirements are being met, and what the potential implications are if they are not being met.

Michael Hutchinson is a Risk and Insurance Consultant within Zurich.

Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries.  It provides insurance to many housing associations.

15.15   Close

The seminar is kindly being hosted in East London by Mike Steele of East Thames Group (29-35 West Ham Lane, Stratford E15 4PH). The nearest station is Stratford, (Central Line, Jubilee Line, Docklands Light Railway, London Overground and National Rail).  

Member organisations may nominate up to three delegates.  The first place for each organisation will be allocated in the order applications are received.  Second and third delegates will be allocated subject to sufficient space being available.   Additional delegates and non-members will be offered places, subject to availability, when priority booking for members closes after 24 June, at a cost of £35 per person.

If you are interested in attending this event please contact  Paul McLoughlin

Contact

Paul McLoughlin
Email paul.mcloughlin@east-thames.co.uk
Website www.east-thames.co.uk
View location map at www.google.co.uk

 

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