First, let me wish all members of the ACT and our other readers a very happy Christmas. I feel a bit guilty raising the subject already but at least I am well behind the retailers in whipping up the festive frenzy. The usual welter of cards at home and in the office won’t yet have hit you but you have the consolation that you won’t be getting cards from Ocean House – nothing personal, but the ACT donates its Christmas card budget to Crisis – www.crisis.org.uk/christmascardchallenge.
The biggest Christmas present I could have, work-wise, is that you take the time to fill in our Reader Survey, carried in this edition. It is crucial for us to know what you think about the magazine, what topics we cover and how, as well as understanding your current and future needs, and any changes since the last survey two years ago. A free pair of first class return tickets on Eurostar is up for grabs as an incentive. Closing date is 15th December, which gives us time to draw a winner who then has one less Christmas present to buy!
Technical issues is another area where your views and opinions are vital drivers for influencing change: IAS 39 in its current form will create major problems for corporates, and time for making a change is rapidly running out, as is outlined on page 11 – our position was also taken up in the FT on 19 November. In other areas of treasurers’ work, some cajoling (or stronger) is needed to make things happen – as Steven Groppi writes in his article on e-payments (p26) “loud and very critical corporate voices [are] making themselves heard”. Please make it your New Year’s resolution to make the ACT and The Treasurer the places to shout loudest.We in turn can then echo your views to the people who matter.
Shouting is not the ‘done thing’ at ACT events but they are a good forum for discussion and exchange of opinion with your peers and those on the other side of the corporate fence. This issue covers a number of recent and imminent events – the Autumn Paper by Johnny Cameron (p15), the ACT’s Annual Dinner (p32), our Symposium on Convertibles (p18) and the ACT’s Pensions Conference (p20).We also preview The Treasurers’ Conference to be run next March (p34). Again, have a good Christmas and I hope you don’t end up too hoarse with all the shouting!
MIKE HENIGAN
Managing Editor