Management accounting conference: day two ─ master classes

MC1: Integrated risk management practices for enhanced organisational performance

Good strategies can often fail. Yet despite the obvious importance of good systematic planning and execution, relatively few managers are focused on the processes and leadership to turn strategies into measurable performance results through the innovative and integrated use of various management tools and approaches.

Why you should attend

This master class provides a practical approach for organisations to implement their strategy through the integrated use of effective risk management practices, proper planning, monitoring and review mechanisms, and effective budgeting, reporting and assurance frameworks.

Key areas to be covered

• understanding organisational structures and corporate objectives
• systematic 'cascading' of strategies and objectives
• aligning objectives, resources and processes throughout the different parts and levels of the organisation
• integrated but innovative use of effective risk management practices, proper planning, monitoring and review
• mechanisms, and effective budgeting, reporting and assurance frameworks

Who should attend:

• management accountants
• strategy and risk officers
• line managers
• finance managers
• general managers
• finance directors
• chief financial officers

About the presenter

Patrick is experienced in business and cutting-edge performance management techniques. He has helped organisations improve their performance and staff productivity through the integrated but innovative use of various management tools and practices, which includes risk management practices and the development of corporate and cascaded scorecards.

Queensland / New South Wales / Victoria / Western Australia: Patrick Ow
Risk management advisor

MC2: Budgeting in uncertainty – insights to better budgeting negotiations

How often have we commenced the budget planning, control and evaluation process with a sense of, trepidation, conscious of the politicisation and game playing that often comes with the process? This session attempts to transform how you view the budgeting process, and subsequently redefine your value adding in an organisation.

Why you should attend

This session will focus on outlining tools and techniques for managing the ambiguities inherent in the budget planning process. It will draw on the potential for accountants in the budget process to transcend a scorekeeping role to that of a more strategic, decision making role with line managers and senior executives. New ways of integrating scenario analysis into the budget negotiation process will be discussed.

Key areas to be covered

This master class will explore the following areas:

• identifying the sources of budget problems
• observing the sources of ambiguity in budget planning and providing strategies to tackle them
• identifying and applying negotiation methodologies to obtain a reasonable and fair budget allocation
• reflecting on the challenges arising when using budgets as a source of evaluation in ambiguous contexts
• identifying methodologies to control and evaluate performance better, in uncertain settings
• re-thinking the role of the accountant