B: corporate governance, controls and corporate social responsibility Flashcards
Corporate governance
Defns: B&H, FRC
Buchanan and Huczynski definition “organisations of social arrangements for the controlled purpose of collective goals“
Collective goals
Multiple people
Systems and procedures
FRC “ facilitate effective entrepreneurial and prudent management that can deliver the long-term success of the company”
System by which companies are directed and controlled
Profit oriented
1st, 2nd objectives and examples
Primary objective: maximise wealth
Secondary objective: detailed objectives as to how to maximise on the wealth
Examples: sole traders, partnerships, Limited liability companies, Ltd, plcs
Not for profit oriented
1st, 2nd objectives and examples
Primary objective: maximise benefit to beneficiaries
Secondary objectives:
-economy (controlling costs)
-efficiency (achieving objectives at minimum cost)
-effectiveness (a measure of achievement by reference to objectives)
Seek to satisfy needs of customers
Examples: HMRC, schools, hospitals, charities
Public sector organisations
objective and examples
Concerned with providing basic government services and controlled by government organisations
Private sector organisations
objective and examples
Run by private individuals and groups rather than government
Examples: businesses, NGOs, charities, clubs
NGOs
objective and examples
Non-governmental organisations who often promote political social and environmental change and are not directly linked to the government
Red Cross, green peace
Cooperatives/mutuals
Organisations owned and democratically controlled by their members – the people who buy their goods and services
Development of corporate governance
Due to a series of large corporate failures between the 1980s and early 1990s:
Poorly run companies
Paul financial reporting
Lack of interest from major investment institutions
Maxwell communications corporation
UK media conglomerate
Empire comprised of 400 companies floating each other
Stole from pension funds and declared bankruptcy
Issues include dominant CEO, and effective board, excessive borrowing
Bailed out by banks
Enron
2001 US energy trader
Leadership for regulators: off-balance-sheet transactions
Chief stole from company and deceived financial position
Overdependence on auditor: familiarity
SOX 2002 introduced to increased transparency, reporting standards
Lead to global code of corporate governance
WorldCom
US telecoms
Reporting practices: claimed expenses as capital expenditure, personal loans by chiefs, but accounting practices, inflated profits
Filed for bankruptcy in 2002
Lead to accounting reform SOX 2002
Agency theory
Nature of agency relationship deriving from separating ownership and control
Problem due to the difference in objectives: max prof in SR vs max wealth in LR
Principal = shareholder
Agent = director
Stewardship
Responsibilities/accountability
Fiduciary relationship
Relationship of good faith where someone makes decisions on behalf of another is best interest
Resource dependency theory
External resources affect behaviour of organisations
Organisations depend on each other to manage resources
What does the OECD stand for and to all its constituents?
Capital O organisation for economic co-operation and development
34 countries and eight non-members who want a free market economy with one set of rules for a corp gov
Name the six principles of OECD corporate governance
- Effective corporate governance framework
- Shareholders rights of ownership
- Fair treatment for shareholders
- Stakeholders roles and rights
- Disclosure and transparency
- Responsibilities of the board
Even Snakes Fear Snakes Dont Run
Who published the IFAC’s main drivers of sustainable corporate success?
The professional accountants and business (PAIB) Committee to support the global accountancy profession in responding to changing expectations
What are the eight drivers of sustainable organisational success?
Customer and stakeholder focus Effective leadership and strategy Integrated governance, risk and control Innovation and adaptability Financial management People and talent management Operational excellence Effective and transparent communication
Which group is Cima a contributor to?
The report leadership group which is a multi stakeholder group that aims to challenge establish thinking of corporate reporting
What is the aim of the report leadership proposals for better corporate governance?
The aim is better rather than more disclosure and disclosure that is adapted to the circumstances of the company
What are the five proposals of the report leadership proposals?
Tongue from the top
How the board works as a team
The key actions of the board and its committees
For effectiveness
Communication and engagement with shareholders
Two-tier boards – which countries? – For what reasons? – Structure? – Responsibilities?
– France and Germany
– codetermination and relationships with banks
– management board and supervisory board (lower and upper tier)
-Lower runs day today, Upper is for oversight an appointment
Unitary boards – which countries? – For what reasons? – Structure? – Responsibilities?
– UK
– single board of executive director & non-executive directors as a mix
Which report says:
the chairman see our role should be split
there should be good communication understanding between audit and accountability,
and institutional investors need for greater dialogue that formed part of the London stock exchange listing rules “comply or explain”?
Cadbury (1992)
Which report related to directors remuneration (reporting the balance between salary and performance)?
Greenbury (1995)
Which report deals with criticism of Premier at previous reports and was consolidated into combined code?
Hampel (1998)
Which report lead to the framework of establishing systems of internal control?
Turnbull (1999)
Which report focused on the role of non-executive directors?
Higgs (2003)
Which report focuses on the recruitment and development of NED’s?
Tyson (2003)
Which report focuses on the relationship between auditors and the audit committee?
Smith (2003)
Which report lead to the review of corporate governance following the financial crisis in 2008 and what did this review lead to?
Sir David Walker and the FRC (2010)
Code was renamed UK corporate governance code
Who is the UK corporate governance code for?
It is for listed UK companies and addresses issues of best practice
What are the main principles of the UK corporate governance code?
Board leadership and company purpose
Remuneration
Audit, risk and internal control including audit committees
Composition succession and evaluation of board
Division of responsibilities
BRACD
Which corporate failures led to the development of SOX and which year did this take place?
Enron and WorldCom 2002
Who has to follow the SOX approach?
All listed companies in the US who must provide an SEC vouching for the financial statements signed by the CEO and CFO
What are the six key points of SOX?
AIAAIAR
Audit committee Internal control report Accuracy of financial statements Auditor independence Increase financial disclosures Audit partner Restrictions on dealings
Who introduced the King Report III and when was it published?
The Institute of Directors in Southern Africa (IoDSA)
I in 1994
II in 2002
III in 2009
Who does the King III report apply to?
All SA entities
Principles drafted on the basis
What should be used in accordance with the King report?
The code of governance principles should be used in conjunction with the report
What are the nine sections of the King code?
Ethical leadership and corporate citizenship Board and directors Audit committees The governance of risk The governance of information technology Compliance with laws rules codes and standards Internal audit Governing stakeholder relationships Integrated reporting and disclosure
What framework does King III use?
The ‘apply or explain’ governance framework
Name two Codes for public services?
The code of governance for the voluntary and community sector the good governance standard for public services
What is the composure of the board committees?
Remuneration: 100% non-executives
Audit: 100% non-executive
Nominations: majority non-executives
How often should the audit committee meet?
At least three times a year and also at least once a year without the presence of any executive directors
What experience with the audit committee have?
At least one of the non-executive directors should have relevant financial experience
the non-executive directors should have formal terms of reference
What is the overall responsibility of the audit committee and what do these typically include?
Overall: controls, internal audit and external audit
Responsibilities:
– review financial statements
-Review internal financial controls
-Discussed significant matters with auditors
-Review internal audit program
-Recommendations on appointment and move of auditors
-Review of audit report and any management letter
-Ensure the system is in place for whistleblowing
What is the nomination committees procedure for appointing new directors to the board?
– Creation of the nominations committee
– chairmanship chair except when considering successor
– evaluation of Canada skills and knowledge
– Germans other commitments should be noted in the report
-Executive should not be members of any other FTSE 100 company boards
-A separate section of the annual report to describe the work of the committee