Spring Budget 2017: Junior barristers could be badly hit by hike in national insurance March 9, 2017 Those trying to make a name for themselves in the courts have been dealt a blow by the impending hike in national insurance. Chancellor Philip Hammond revealed in his maiden Budget yesterday that the class 4 National Insurance rate would be increased by one percentage point to 10 per cent from April 2018, and then [...]
Standard Life Investments sees first senior executive quit after merger plans unveiled March 8, 2017 Standard Life Investments’ head of equities, David Cumming, is the asset manager’s first senior executive to exit the business following its merger with Aberdeen Asset Management. The company said in a statement that Cumming was leaving to “pursue other interests”. Cumming joined Standard Life Investments in 1998, becoming UK head of equities in 2000, and [...]
Dignity share price drops after growth revision March 8, 2017 Dignity, which provides funeral services, crematoria and pre-arranged funeral plans, saw its share price plunge 13 per cent after it revised down its growth rate. It revised down its medium-term target underlying EPS growth rate to eight per cent per annum from the current 10 per cent. However, Dignity beat analysts’ consensus profit forecasts after [...]
How to get more women to the very top of the business world March 8, 2017 This International Women’s Day, I have been thinking about why – after so many years of discussion – we still need an “international day” to commit to working towards gender equality. As a female chief executive of a global professional body, I am unusual and most of my peers are men. ACCA has helped buck [...]
Former Labour home secretary brands proposed new solicitors’ exam a potential matter of “national concern” March 6, 2017 A former Labour home secretary said today proposed changes to qualifying exams for solicitors should be treated as a matter of national concern. Both Lord Blunkett and Lord Low of Dalston, the latter of whom brought the question forward for debate in the House of Lords, argued the Solicitors Qualifying Exam put forward by the Solicitors [...]
It’s a thumbs up from the City: Over half of bankers think the Senior Managers’ Regime was a good idea March 6, 2017 Bankers have given their blessing to a recently introduced set of rules designed to increase personal accountability, the next tranche of which is due to take effect tomorrow. Over half (55 per cent) of nearly 200 senior finance execs polled by Duff & Phelps think the Senior Managers' and Certification Regime, which first came into force last [...]
Aim-quoted TLA Worldwide reveals $237m home run of contract negotiations in record off-season March 6, 2017 A UK-based athlete agency has netted $237m (£193m) of baseball contracts during Major League Baseball's off-season, growing its business by more than a third. Aim-quoted firm TLA Worldwide revealed its record figures today in advance of the 1 April start to the regular season in North America. TLA represents a host of sportstars from around the world, also including [...]
More KPMG partners follow Richard Fleming to Alvarez & Marsal in a bid to break the Big Four’s stranglehold March 6, 2017 One year has passed since KPMG big-hitter Richard Fleming shocked the City by walking out on the consultancy giant. Fleming officially joins rival Alvarez & Marsal this month. The firm moved for him and two other partners in early 2016 after KPMG rejected a bid from Alvarez & Marsal for the Big Four giant’s restructuring business. Today, the [...]
Aviva and Legal General set to report profit rises March 5, 2017 Insurers Aviva and Legal & General are expected to report profit rises when they report on Wednesday and Thursday respectively next week. Analysts expect Aviva’s full-year operating profits to rise 8 per cent to £2.9bn and Legal & General is likely to advise operating profit increases of £1.6bn, an increase of 13 per cent, compared [...]
The real business rates scandal is that the government is abolishing accuracy March 3, 2017 How much income tax should you pay? The question is not about the tax rate but the accuracy of the amount. Should HMRC take from you a sum which, plus or minus a margin of error, reflects your earnings, investments and reliefs? Or should your contribution be an accurate assessment? Why settle for anything less [...]