|
from University
of Derby press release september 2000
Accountants
to be put on trial
Accountants
are to go on trial accused of failing to communicate with members
of the management team and thereby are guilty of not adding to British
industry.
The trial, in
the University of Derby's courtroom, aims to establish if the accused
'accountants' add value to British business.
It is being
hosted by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
in conjunction with the University's Derbyshire Business School
and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Professor Richard
Wilson, for the prosecution, of Loughborough University Business
School, will argue that accountants have an introspective outlook
and fail to make use of opportunities to engage in wealth creation.
He will call
on expert witnesses from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and
members of the business community.
Ian Herbert,
defending, of the Derbyshire Business School will contend that while
accountants have much to offer, they are restricted by short-term
corporate planning horizons.
In mitigation
he will assert that there is a case for improving financial literacy
and appreciation amongst management.
Expert witnesses
will be called from local businesses. Ian
will be supported by Neil Gray, Managing Partner, Pannell Kerr Forster
and George Tansely, Acting Chief Executive of Business Link Southern
Derbyshire.
Judging will be Fiona Church and Kevin Bampton from the University's
Division of Law. The jury will be drawn from local business executives.
Aimed at
promoting the value of accounting to business, the trial will
provide a thought-provoking look at some of the issues of communication
and perception between accountants and the decision-makers of UK
companies.
"Accounting
serves a number of needs and there is a distinction between financial
and management accounting," explains Ian Herbert.
"We
hope to demonstrate how both play a part in assisting management
in decision-making and thereby adding value to British businesses."
The trial forms
part of CIMA's branch meeting on 18 October and begins at 6.30pm
with sentence being passed by 8.00pm. Anyone interested in attending
should contact Ian Herbert on 01332 591265.
Ends
back
to court case summary
|
