Northern Ireland Audit Office’s Post

It’s Awards Season! That time of year is here again, when corporates tally up their wins, pit themselves against competitors, and brace for the ultimate verdict. While leaders focus on whose yardstick stretches further, behind the scenes, PR, BD, and Comms teams are in full swing—gathering data, analyzing metrics, and submitting entries to fuel their company’s aspirations. It's a demanding, exhilarating task, with a delicate balance on just how much we should boast. After all, an advocate’s work should always speak for itself! But here I am, typing away, horn firmly in hand, tooting on behalf of these legal luminaries. This year marks my fourth making submissions for the Nairobi Legal Awards, and my entries are a steady stream of finalists. Coincidence? No. It’s the crafted touch of a seasoned PR professional. I know how to pick my stars At my previous posting I had the joy of 2021: ADR Practitioner of the Year – 1st Runner Up 2022: SME Law Firm of the Year – 2nd Runner Up 2023: Managing Partner of the Year + SME Law Firm of the Year – We took both! Now,2024, at my new firm MMC ASAFO, we’ve thrown our hat in for Large Law Firm of the Year and Commercial Practitioner of the Year. With the finish line in sight and the winner to be revealed on November 22nd, I'm eagerly waiting to see if my “stud” will clinch the title! It’s not just about winning—it’s about elevating champions whose achievements make my job of horn-tooting both easy and exhilarating. I guess that makes me a Kingmaker! #awards #winnings #milestones

It's great to see our firm's continued success supporting international clients. As a native Texan, I know our economy depends on global markets. We stand ready to support international clients by helping them navigate market entry, and by providing ongoing legal support for their operations and investments here in Texas. * In 2021, foreign-controlled companies employed 660,500 Texas workers. Major sources of foreign investment in Texas included the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany. Foreign investment in Texas was responsible for 6.0 percent of the state's total private-industry employment in 2021. * In 2023, Texas goods exports were $444.6 billion, an increase of 60 percent ($167 billion) from its export level in 2013 (latest data available). Goods exports accounted for 17.3 percent of Texas GDP in 2023. * Data source: Office of the United States Trade Representative. Our prosperity is vastly enhanced by global trade. Platt Richmond is proud to help companies secure their success in Texas.

We’re thrilled to see our CEO, Philip Whitman, CPA, CEPA, representing Whitman Transition Advisors LLC at the BDO Alliance USA regional meeting in New England! Today, he’s sharing valuable insights on “The Impact of New Competitors on CPA Firms Nationwide,” a crucial topic as our industry evolves. We’re proud to be part of these conversations that help CPA firms navigate challenges and seize new opportunities. Stay tuned for more updates, and if you’re attending, don’t miss Phil’s session this afternoon! #BDOAlliance #WhitmanTransitionAdvisors #CPAIndustry #IndustryInsights

Continuing our staff profile series, we're proud to introduce Dan Heard, one of our partners here at MH&A who plays a crucial role in driving our vision forward. Known for his expertise in major deals, Dan’s leadership has been instrumental in delivering tailored solutions for our public sector clients. Join us in getting to know the talented team making an impact at MH&A! What's the best piece of professional advice you've ever received? One of the best jobs I had in the Civil Service was being senior private secretary to former BP boss Lord Browne, when he was Government Lead Non-Executive. I got to hear lots of insights from Lord Browne and other business leaders as they contributed to Departmental boards. Their approach to engaging with the complex challenges faced by Departments showed me that, if you care about improving public services, there are lots of ways to do it – in the public sector but also in private enterprise. For a (then) career civil servant from a family of public servants, it was an eye opener. If you could pick one skill that has helped you the most in your career, what would it be? Before working in government and industry, I had ambitions to become an academic philosopher. Philosophers learn to dissect a problem forensically, and when engaging with it to say exactly and only what they mean. The context in academia, in public policy, and in big ticket commercial deals might be a bit different, but an ability to systematically get to grips with complexity is valuable in all three. It’s not enough on its own though – the people I’ve seen in my career who have had the biggest positive impact on delivering public services don’t just deeply understand the problem, they build pragmatic, collaborative ways to do something about it. What’s something about public sector consultancy that people often misunderstand? There can be a perception that private sector involvement in delivering public services is inherently a bad thing. I probably once thought so. After nearly 20 years of delivering citizen outcomes, both from inside government and by supporting from outside, I have come to a different perspective. The most important thing is that we have the best public services we can, that do the best by the people that need them most. It’s citizen outcomes that count. Sometimes the best tool for the job is in the public sector, sometimes in the private sector. Often it is both in collaboration. We need a pragmatic approach, built on effective regulation, skilled sourcing, mutual understanding, and a shared endeavour to improve our fellow citizens’ lives.

The 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in France™ has recognized 61 of my colleagues in Jones Day's Paris Office across 39 different areas of practice. https://ow.ly/CwqK50Sn8qY

Dear #Community, there are less than 3 weeks until the registration for the Effective Board Director Program closes and places are limited 👉 https://lnkd.in/gm_XGD44 So let us tell you what you'll earn by joining the Program: ✔ The program aims to stimulate the competitiveness of boards, promote good business practices, and develop the specific skills and abilities needed by a current / future board member. ✔ Understand the role, responsibilities and obligations of a board director and knowledge of the legal basis for corporate governance and the benefits of a strong governance system. ✔ Gain knowledge about the relationship between the Board of Directors and the Executive Board, the role of committees and the need to have internal and external consultants, find out what is the optimal management of dynamics at the board level and obtain up-to-date knowledge of the legal requirements and ethical rules applicable to a board member. ✔ Update with the latest concerns and topics on the board agenda. ✔ Learn through practice- contribution to meetings (simulations of real-life situations. The Program is developed in partnership with Bucharest Stock Exchange / Bursa de Valori Bucuresti (BVB) and awaits its next cohort. Apply by October 11th 👉 https://lnkd.in/gm_XGD44

Do you prefer in-the-moment or considered feedback? I’ve spent a couple of weeks reflecting on last month’s ACC Europe – Association of Corporate Counsel conference in Edinburgh. I often share my thoughts on an event straight afterwards, but this time I took the challenge from Fiona de Kerckhove to reflect on what I heard and apply it day-to-day before sharing. Here are the moments that resonated deeply with me: ✊ Activist Leaders. I loved our opening keynote with Lucy Parker inspiring us to take the mindset of the activist seeking to drive change is absolutely relevant to me as a compliance officer (aka anti-corruption officer aka corporate integrity guardian). I don’t want people to tick boxes – I want them to understand WHY what we do matters, and get excited about why we need to do the right thing for society. 🤯 The Wirecard scandal. Two lessons from Dan McCrum really struck a chord. First, there is never just one cockroach: one bad thing = probably more bad things happening. Talking in this way makes it hard to brush an issue aside as "just a bad apple" and gets people thinking actively about reputation. And that segues to my second lesson: be more like the internal auditors who kept asking WHY to get to the root of the issue. For me this has translated into digging more deeply when something feels off or my spider sense tells me I need to know more. Thankfully this has not uncovered any surprises yet it feels good to have that richer understanding around an issue so any confidence you have is legitimate. 🤝 Hostage Negotiations. It takes a lot to be really blown away by a speaker. And Suzanne Williams QPM did just that. This was a tour de force though her time dealing with hostage takers, and I left feeling humbled after hearing her insights from dealing with the highest-stake situations imaginable. My takeaway is the need to seeking to understand before you can be understood – not assuming I know best or my way must be the only right one. Actively listening to what colleagues and external parties are concerned about when formulating a plan of action can help find a way forward. Now we will keep applying the insights we have had had the privilege of hearing about, and we're looking forward to the 2025 ACC Europe conference in the fabulous city of Barcelona! #ACCE #ACCEurope #InHouse #ACCFamily

“Society’s expectations are enormous – the pressure to be the best at everything is real.” Maria Johnson FCA, Head of Finance for Capital Investments at Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, talks to Liz Riley about her journey to becoming a Chartered Accountant, the value of balance, and the lessons learned from a diverse and rewarding career. Read the full article on the Accountancy Ireland website: https://brnw.ch/21wPPOr #Careers #WomenInFinance #Accountancy #CharteredAccountants

Round Recognition Awards—gone but not forgotten.    It’s usually this time of year when I put my judge’s hat on and select the best annual report and accounts. However, we’ve done things a bit differently and held our first Gather Round event instead.    That’s not to say we don’t want to celebrate your achievements.     Head to the Round Governance Services Limited post to find out more.    #AnnualReport #Governance #CompanySecretaries #CorprorateDesignAgencies 

🌟 Exciting Opportunity Alert! 🌟 Nominations for CPA Australia Divisional Councils are opening this week worldwide, and we have FIVE (5) open spots in the ACT for a three-year term starting January 1, 2025. 📅 Our CPA Australia membership in the ACT is wonderfully diverse, and we believe our council should reflect this diversity. We warmly welcome all nominations, especially from those in public practice and larger government departments. Your participation can help ensure greater representation on the council in 2025 and beyond. 🌏 As a Councillor, you'll be a vital link between members, the Board, and the broader organization. Your voice will address member needs and concerns, but it’s not just about meetings and decisions. It’s about building connections and making lasting friendships. Each Councillor serves a three-year term, providing ample time to make a meaningful impact. If you're passionate about accounting, consider nominating for the Divisional Council. With five spots open in the ACT division, there’s a great opportunity for you to step up and make a real contribution. Your participation will benefit not just your career, but the entire CPA Australia network. Let's work together to create a vibrant, supportive environment for all our members. Your enthusiasm and dedication are needed! 🌟 #CPAAustralia #DivisionalCouncil #Accounting #Leadership #Diversity #ACT https://lnkd.in/gU5Y3MDS