The ACT’s year-end date – 30 April – is unusual in my experience. This timing does have the advantage that the run-up to year-end, including the whole budgeting process and then the post year-end work, is probably timed more conveniently for staff than it is in companies with a calendar year-end date. It means, however, that whilst many of our readers will be thinking about first quarter performance – and how 2004 may evolve and what can be done now to address any risks – we at the ACT are busily putting to bed our final forecast for 2003-04 and preparing to take our 2004-05 budget through the April Council meeting.
