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Corporate governance is the way that any organisation manages and controls its day-to-day operations. It is driven by the purpose of the organisation and at its heart it should seek to enable the achievement of the objects set by the Board, based on the delivery of the agreed strategy. It represents the fundamentals of good business practice and incorporates business life at all levels of the organisation. The Board of any organisation has the ultimate responsibility and accountability for the corporate governance framework, supported by their executive and operational teams. Consequently, there is an expectation that accounting and finance personnel, especially at senior levels, have the appropriate knowledge, understanding and capability to support, and help to lead the process. It should not be viewed as just a ‘bureaucratic exercise’.

"An excellent overview of a complicated subject."

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This course, in the time available, provides a good practical overview of what you need to know about corporate governance. A combination of expert teaching techniques, case study materials and peer discussion, will help you to learn to contextualise the overall approach to governance. This in turn will enable you to manage and respond efficiently and effectively, and best promote corporate governance systems, processes and procedures. Central to good governance is the opportunity to communicate how the organisation understands, responds to and meets a range of stakeholder’s (both internal and external) expectations, based on a solid foundation of ‘Trust’.

Learning outcomes:

• Appreciation of how good governance can make a difference and is a strategic focused activity and not just a ‘tick-box’ routine.
• Basic benchmarking of corporate governance frameworks to a range of recognised standards, principles and codes, across all sectors and both UK and internationally.
• An ability to draw together the essential themes and headline areas that demonstrate a joined-up approach to governance with particular focus on what constitutes an ‘effective board’, including its composition, skills and competencies.
• Consideration of individual director, both Executive and Non-Executive, duties, roles and responsibilities.
• Getting the best out of board performance and effectiveness evaluations and reviews.
• Assessment of the constitutional and organisational structures and the determination of the appropriate board sub-committee needs and requirements, including areas such as remuneration, audit, risk and nominations.
• Updates on how boards are looking at areas such as strategy development, risk management and internal control.
• Understanding of assurance needs, with reference to the ‘3-Lines’ concept, and potential use of ‘assurance mapping’ techniques.
• Review of the latest trends and developments, including areas such as diversity and inclusion, ‘ESG’ matters, compliance and legal obligations.
• Access and use of the latest ICAEW knowledge in this area.

Who should attend?

Senior finance professionals at all levels, both Executive and Non-Executive, who want to increase their ability to articulate, shape and lead an effective response to corporate governance needs.

Trainer

Louis Cooper - MD, Risk & Control Services and co-founder of NEDA Louis is a Chartered Accountant (FCA) and has over 30 years’ experience in governance, risk and assurance services, in public practice where he has worked for all of the ‘Big 4’ Accounting firms and for 6 years was a partner at the UK top 10 audit firm Crowe Clark Whitehill (now Crowe UK), where he led the Risk & Assurance team. He provides a range of corporate governance consulting and advisory services and sits on the Quoted Companies Alliance ('QCA') Corporate Governance Expert Group and co-wrote the QCA Corporate Governance Code 2023. He acts as an Associate with three governance, risk and assurance consulting firms and is a regular speaker at governance related events, both in the UK and overseas. Louis was one of the founders of the Non-Executive Directors’ Association (‘NEDA’) – the members Association that was set up in 2006-7 to support the specific needs and demands of Non-Executive Directors and Trustees across all sectors and at each stage of their ‘life-cycle’. Louis was CEO for 10 years and led the NED and board training, education and advisory services. Louis acted as editor of the latest edition of the ‘NED Handbook’ (6th Edition - 2023) and helped to establish the Non-Executive Director Awards which celebrated 18 years in 2024.

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Risk management is part of good business practice and should cover all aspects of day-to-day operations. It is also a part of business life at all levels, from the boardroom to the office/shop/factory floor. The Board of any organisation has the ultimate responsibility and accountability for risk management and internal control activities, supported by their executive and operational teams. Consequently, there is an expectation that accounting and finance personnel, especially at senior levels, have the appropriate knowledge, understanding and capability to support, and in some cases, lead the process.

This course, in the time available, provides a good practical overview of what you need to know about risk management. A combination of expert teaching techniques, case study materials and peer discussion, will help you to learn to contextualise the overall approach to risk management. This in turn will enable you to manage and respond efficiently and effectively, and get the best out of the risk systems, processes and procedures. Whilst there are some tried and tested techniques and approaches it is not a “one-size fits all” – each organisation needs to establish an appropriate way of meeting their own requirements, based on their own fit for purpose assessment.

Learning outcomes:

• Appreciation of how risk management is a key element of good governance and is a strategic focused activity and not just a compliance routine.
• Reference the impact of risk culture and how organisations establish their own risk appetite positions, especially at board level.
• Improved risk context, identification, measurement and enterprise–wide profiling.
• Focus on the decision-making process based on risk treatment (the residual risk position after control considerations).
• Basic benchmarking of the risk and control approach to a range of recognised standards, principles and codes, both UK and international.
• Understanding of assurance needs and potential use of ‘assurance mapping’ techniques.
• Consideration of the potential use of technology as an enabler to the approach.
• Review of the latest trends and developments, including areas such as opportunity risk, reputational risk areas, related ‘ESG’ matters and the ‘extended enterprise’.
• Access and use of the latest ICAEW knowledge in this area.
• Ensure that risk management is on a cycle of continuous improvement, based on an appreciation of its risk maturity.

Who should attend?

Senior finance professionals at all levels, both Executive and Non-Executive, who want to increase their ability to articulate, shape and embed a culture of effective risk management in their business.

Trainer

Louis Cooper - MD, Risk & Control Services and co-founder of NEDA. Louis is a Chartered Accountant (FCA) and has over 30 years’ experience in governance, risk and assurance services, in public practice where he has worked for all of the ‘Big 4’ Accounting firms and for 6 years was a partner at the UK top 10 audit firm Crowe Clark Whitehill (now Crowe UK), where he led the Risk & Assurance team. He provides a range of risk management consulting and advisory services and helped to establish the Institute of Risk Management ('IRM') Innovation Special Interest Group which seeks to consider how risk management can act as a positive, value-add business activity rather than just a compliance exercise. He acts as an Associate with three governance, risk and assurance consulting firms; has advised organisations on technology-based risk management platforms and systems and is a regular speaker at governance and risk focused events, both in the UK and overseas. Louis was one of the founders of the Non-Executive Directors’ Association (‘NEDA’) – the members Association that was set up in 2006-7 to support the specific needs and demands of Non-Executive Directors and Trustees across all sectors and at each stage of their ‘life-cycle’. Louis was CEO for 10 years and led the NED and board training, education and advisory services with risk management being emphasised and recognised as an essential boardroom area of expertise. Louis acted as editor of the latest edition of the ‘NED Handbook’ (6th Edition - 2023) and helped to establish the Non-Executive Director Awards which celebrated 18 years in 2024.

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The role of the Non-Executive Director (NED) has come under the spotlight and the expectations of key stakeholders of companies, both internal and external, has increased significantly. NEDs are considered to be the “guardians of corporate governance”, but are also required to bring a broad range of experience and insight, as well as providing a positive and supporting challenge to the boardroom. Aspiring NEDs need basic knowledge and understanding; new NEDs need to have the essential tools and techniques to add value from day one; experienced NEDs need to keep up-to-date, both technically and with further development of some of the softer personal skills.

This NED training and certification programme, run in partnership with the Non-Executive Directors' Association (NEDA), covers a breadth of essential topics including: the role of NEDs, NEDs and the board, director duties and responsibilities the role of the chairman and board committees (especially the Audit Committee), updates on corporate governance, business strategy and risk management, evolving good practice in board performance as well as exploring aspects of corporate culture and director attributes.

The cost of the course includes:

• All course materials and supporting documents.
• Six months’ complimentary membership of NEDA, providing access to the course text - the Non-Executive Directors’ Handbook (through the members’ portal) – plus all of the other NEDA member benefits.
• The Non-Executive Directors’ Handbook not only supports the overall course learning outcomes, especially taking the NED Certificate Test (see below), but also serves as the essential reference guide during your career as a NED, leader and board committee member.
• A link to the NED Certificate Test will be provided after attending the course allowing up to two attempts to pass the Test.
• The Test comprises 30 multiple choice questions to be answered in one hour. Questions are drawn from an extensive question bank based on the NED Handbook which should therefore be read in advance of taking the Test. The Test is online, 'open-book' and can be taken at any time.
• The 'ICAEW NED Certificate' is awarded upon successful completion of the online Test.

Learning outcomes:

• Understanding what it means to be a professional non-executive director.
• Seeing the role in the context of the demands of a range of industry sectors.
• Being up-to-date with the leading governance, strategy and risk practices aligned with stakeholder interests.
• Appreciating why an “effective board” is needed and what it should look like.
• Familiarity with the roles and responsibilities of Board Committees.
• All you need to know with regard to the Audit Committee.
• Understanding how you can and should be adding tangible value to an organisation.
• Knowing the best way to go to market as a new NED, with some tips and hints on presenting yourself as an independent NED.
• Benefiting from the knowledge and experience of NEDA, the leading NED training, advisory and support organisation.

Please note: when you register for any of the available training packages any personal data provided will be shared with ICAEW and NEDA.

In partnership with:

CPD hours

ICAEW's revised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations bring in new CPD requirements. This includes a minimum number of hours and an ethics requirement. Attending this course could contribute up to 7 hours of verifiable CPD, providing you can demonstrate that the content is relevant to your role.

A copy of the course booking confirmation email is accepted as evidence of verifiable CPD. You will need to save the email as a JPEG or PDF before uploading it to your record. Click here to use ICAEW’s self-assessment tool to help you work out how much CPD you will need to fulfil each year.

Who should attend?

Business leaders. 

About the trainer

Nick Blackwell FCA, CEO, NEDA Nick is a leading authority in Governance, Audit and Assurance and Finance. He has 16 years’ experience delivering CPD, exam, and train-the-trainer courses both online and in-person worldwide. Nick has co-authored several books including ‘The NED Handbook (6th edition)’, ‘Essential Governance, Risk and Business Ethics’ and ‘Essential Audit and Assurance’. Nick is CEO of the Non-Executive Directors’ Association (NEDA) which partners with the ICAEW in delivering governance-based training. NEDA’s mission is to develop trusted professionals and highly effective boards by promoting good governance and diversity of thought in the boardroom. Nick is a visiting Fellow at the University of Reading business school, and a former ACA examiner. He is an ICAEW-qualified FCA, having trained as an auditor with big 4 accounting firm PwC before moving into investment banking with Lehman Brothers. There he specialised in audit, internal control, risk and strategy.