Registration / Welcome
8:30-9:15 / 9:15-9:30

Welcome and introduction by Chair - Charles Nall, CFDG Chair

Plenary
9:30-10:15

The Longterm impact of the recession on charity: retrenchment or revolution?

Geoff Mulgan, The Young Foundation

Stream A
RECESSION 1

Stream B
RECESSION 2

Stream C
CURRENT ISSUES

Stream D
VALUING PEOPLE

Stream E
UPDATES

Session 1
10:15-11:00

1A: Cloud computing - real of false benefits - FAD or truly revolutionary

In this session James will seek to demystify this ‘new technology’. He will look at how he has implemented the various flavours of ‘cloud’ at Care UK describing the way Care UK decides what IT services would be appropriate, how the risks were mitigated and what the end results are.

James Greenman, Care UK

1B: Organisational change for NGOs

In this session, Tomas will present structured key principles for driving success in organisational change. He will also discuss examples from his experience.

Tomas Hatem, Save the Children

1C: Managing the decline of cheques

Peter will look at the background to the decision to end the cheque clearing system in the UK on 31st October 2018 and talk about what the Payments Council is doing next. He will cover the structure and role of the Payments Council; he will also cover the work that the Payments Council has initiated to ensure that acceptable alternatives are available for all major users of cheques, including the charity sector.

Peter Finlayson, Payments Council

1D: DC - the good, the bad and the ugly

Where are we today in the DC world? With the approach of Personal Accounts (now NEST) and the growing closure of DB arrangements, DC schemes are very much in the spotlight. In this session Rhidian and Karen will ask how do you choose the best one for you, ensure the arrangement is fit for purpose, and how do you keep your employees happy?

Rhidian Williams & Karen Kendall, Quantum Advisory

1E: Current issues in VAT

In his session, Socrates will be considering recent changes affecting the sector as well as relevant Tribunal and Court Judgments.

Socrates Socratous, SOC VAT Consultants

Break
11:00-11:30

Tea & coffee break and time to explore the exhibition

Session 2
11:30-12:15

2A: Impact reporting - still relevant in 2010?

RNID’s impact reporting journey began in 2000, but a decade on the issue of external performance reporting is as current and contentious as ever. Paul will explore the topic of impact reporting drawing on RNID’s experience of the last ten years.

Paul Breckell, RNID

2B: Making a difference with procurement

The current economic climate has impacted income and expenditure for Charities. Procurement has a leading role to play in ensuring the cause gains greater benefit from every pound donated. Mike will be presenting how a well thought out procurement strategy will make a difference to your operation.

Mike Jennings, Avenue UK Limited

2C: Fraud: Hot Topics

In this session, Sterl will be looking at latest fraud trends. He will also talk about corruption risks, including the Bribery Bill Update, as well as whistleblowing.

Sterl Greenhalgh, Grant Thornton UK LLP

2D: Assessing and maximising the value of coaching

Together with one of the leaders of charities he works with, Jeremy will lead us through a relatively interactive 45 minutes which will help us all understand what, as Finance Directors, we can put in place to understand, ensure and measure the real value that individual executive coaching can add to our organisations.

Jeremy Keeley, Consultant & Dame Mary Marsh, Clore Social Leadership Programme

2E: Mergers

In this session, Richard will talk about the Commission policy on collaborative working and mergers among charities. He will discuss the themes and issues involved and the use of our powers to facilitate mergers as well as the merger process.

Richard Black, Charity Commission

Plenary
12:15-13:00

The road to hell is paved with good intenders

Lesley-Anne will look at how RNIB is positioning itself to maximise its ability to help blind and partially sighted people, both now and in the future, during the hard times we are facing. She will look at the importance of having a good strategy and how flexibility helps when opportunities arise.

Lesley-Anne Alexander, RNIB

Lunch
13:00-14:15

Lunch and time to explore the exhibition

Session 3
14:15-15:00

3A: Commissioning for personalisation – a look at the landscape and challenges ahead

This presentation explores some of the key opportunities and the challenges around personalisation of social and health care services. The focus is two-fold: to consider current and potential future impacts on service delivery and commissioning, and secondly, to consider how third sector values and characteristics fit with this developing model of service provision.

John Maddocks, CIPFA

3B: Investing in an unpredictable world - some thoughts on the outlook

Edward's presentation will be wide ranging, encompassing global investment themes, such as the direction of the main economic forces, including growth, inflation and interest rates. He will examine the impact that these themes have on a variety of asset classes and outline his views on markets over the medium term.

Edward Bonham Carter, Jupiter Asset Management Limited

3C: Getting the most from your internal audit

The session will focus on how to use data mining interrogation tools as an integral part of risk based reviews to: a) 100% testing of financial and other key non financial data; b) search for potential fraudulent transactions; c) identify a range of value for money and efficiency solutions; d) provide valuable empirically based evidence for the assurances contained in the risk register.

Mark Kinsela, Chantrey Vellacott DFK & Vipan Narang, The Churches Conservation Trust

3D: Managing change

The one constant in these turbulent times is change - this session will look at what this means for the FD - what are the key issues that need to be considered, how do you identify what needs to be done and how do you deal with the barriers so that necessary change is achieved without losing momentum and clarity of purpose.

Pesh Framjee, Horwath Clark Whitehill

3E: What is happening to the Trustees report?

Have trustees reports got longer? What has been added by Public benefit reporting? What about accounting for sustainability? Who reads it anyway? Janet has looked at lots of trustees' annual reports and in this session she will share some of her findings.

Janet Slade, Charity Commission

Break
15:00-15:30

Tea & coffee break with time to explore the exhibition

Session 4
15:30-16:15

4A: IT as a transformational function

You as Finance Directors are used to thinking of ICT as a utility service. How many of you have considered the transformational possibilities of ICT? In this session David will explore the possibilities for step-change within NfP enterprises enabled by technology. He will identify some of the key technologies and show how combinations of these technologies can be harnessed to deliver business benefits.

David Chan, Cass, Centre for Infromation Leadership

4B: Post-merger integration

The merger of Help the Aged and Age Concern England brought together two similar sized organisations with similar charitable objects, but who had very different methods of income generation and service delivery. One year in, Charles will describe the journey they have been on, what they did right and what they should have done differently.

Charles Scott, Age UK

4C: Tackling sustainability in The National Trust

Andy will describe the many ways in which the National Trust - a conservation charity with over 350 historic properties and 600,000 acres of land - is tackling sustainability. He will share the Trust's successes and challenges - at a property level and strategically - and will offer an insight into the practical difficulties of embedding sustainability principles in the organisation.

Andy Copestake, The National Trust

4D: How to reduce the costs of stress and ill health

In this session, Paul will be identifying the costs associated with absence, the main causes and how to take decisive action. He will also demonstrate how managing ill health well can improve wellbeing for all employees and reduce people costs.

Paul Roberts, Enlighten

4E: Risk management and insolvency

The current economic situation, and fears about the future, have made the risk of insolvency a real concern. This workshop will identify key issues, partly using case studies, and allow time for issues and technical questions to be developed.

Peter Gotham, Gotham Erskine LLP

Plenary
16:15-17:00

Smarter networking for FD's

How often do you attend events? Do you find the whole idea of mingling at an event a little bit daunting at times and wish you could make the experience more productive, fun and interesting? We all know that building and sustaining great connections will help us in our work and personal career. This session will show you exactly how to do it. Heather White, Networking Expert and CEO of Smarter Networking will guide us through this fascinating subject with instant tips and practical suggestions.

Heather White, Smarter Networking

Close
17:00-17:10

Closing remarks by the Chair

Reception
17:10-18:00

Reception kindly sponsored by Standard Bank.