Preventing Data Loss and Building Your Practice

May and June 2016

Following recent high profile cyber attacks, it is more important than ever that accountancy practices have robust systems in place to prevent against the loss of client data. In this series of seminars, especially for accountants, we have invited a number of experts to discuss ways to not only protect your practice, but enhance and grow it.

Leading experts who work extensively with accountancy practices will update you on areas such as retaining and winning clients, practical strategies for minimising cyber risk, as well as how to minimise PI claims.

The full agenda is as follows:

The Changing Practice: An outline of future threats and opportunities all practices face

The market for practising firms has been altered radically by higher audit thresholds, regulation, technology and more intense competition. Firms need to adapt to these changes to remain successful in the future. Former ICAEW president, and current Council member Arthur Bailey will give insight into the changes all practices should be preparing for.

Managing Risk: Cyber Risk – Practical steps you can take to minimise your exposure

All companies are vulnerable to Cyber attacks; however the ICO recently announced that financial services ranked 6th in terms of sectors most likely to suffer data breaches. Accountancy practices are particularly vulnerable as they contain large amounts of personal and business data. In this session we will outline the key areas of risk and the most cost effective ways to secure you and your clients against data leakage.

Managing Risk: An Insurer's Tale – How to avoid PI disasters

As the largest broker of accountants risks in the UK and appointed insurance broker partner to the ICAEW, Bluefin is ideally placed to look at the key trends in Professional Indemnity claims. The talk will address some of the key areas of claims trends Bluefin are seeing in the world of accountants, providing some practical risk management advice to you, as well as having one eye on the future of where they think claims may come from.

Managing Risk: Fraud Identification & Mitigation

In this presentation, we will examine the prevalence of employee fraud and provide some practical advice on what to do if fraud is suspected, how to deal with the investigation, the collection of key evidence and a discussion of the options available. The presentation will include real-life case studies which demonstrate best practice which minimise loss and reputational damage.

Building Your Practice: Growth Strategy/Target Identification

Following on from a well-received marketing presentation delivered over the last few years, we will be focusing on how to grow your practice via cost effective marketing. The speaker will look at building your practice, including identifying target clients, how to contact them, how to differentiate your practice from other competitors, and how to win new work, as well as preventing client loss.

Building Your Practice: Winning Work Online

In this session we will offer practical advice about how to not only increase your online presence, but also how to actively win new clients. Our speakers have significant expertise in advising accountancy practices on their online strategy. Areas covered will include: how to boost your Google page ranking, using LinkedIn and social media to secure new client meetings, the importance of content, and as well some simple SEO strategies as well.

Funding for Growth Clients

Our Corporate Finance team will be talking us through what they regard the key sources of finance currently available to businesses looking for investment. They will also focus on 'Buy and Build' acquisition strategies

Our final seminar will be held on Tuesday 14 June at the Radisson Blu, Manchester Airport.

The free seminar will be followed by lunch and has been awarded 3 hours 15 minutes CPD.

Date: Tuesday 14 June 2016
Time: 8.15am - 12.45pm
Venue: Radisson Blu (Manchester Airport), Chicago Ave, Manchester M90 3RA
Contact: [email protected] 
RSVP