COVID-19: SMPs Recovering Smarter, Stronger, Sustainable
Small- and Medium-Sized Practices Post COVID-19 stand to play a crucial role in helping SMEs recover from the coronavirus crisis, build their resilience and ensure their digital and sustainable transition. For them to be effective in this role will demand they be smarter, stronger and sustainable. SMPs will need to transform their practices by accelerating the adoption of digital technologies and broadening their services. New services may include advisory services related to early warning, insolvency, and sustainability as well as accounting services that include sustainability and non-financial reporting. The SMPs role as trusted advisor to their SME clients will grow ever more important.
Read Latest From Brussels – Special Issue on the EFAA International Conference
09:30 Salvador Marín, EFAA President, Welcome and Opening Remarks [video]
09:45 Alan Johnson, IFAC President [video]
10:15 Session I: Achieving Sustainability – How can Small- and Medium-Sized Accountancy Practices Contribute? [video]
Panellists discuss the role to be played by SMPs in helping SMEs make the sustainable transition including advice on sustainable practices, accessing sustainable finance and sustainability reporting and assurance.
Thomas Verheye, Principal Advisor Green Finance and Investment, European Investment Fund (EIF) – Presentation
Luc Hendrickx, Director, SMEunited
Usha Ganga, Theme director Sustainability, NBA
Moderator: Paul Thompson, EFAA Director
11:30 Break
11:45 Session II: Stronger – Diversifying Service Offering [video]
Panellists discuss possible ways of supporting SMPs and making them stronger by broadening the range of services small- and medium-sized accountancy practices (SMPs) provide. What are the new services for the future and what kind of skills and qualifications will accountants need to obtain?
Inge Buffolo, Director Customer Department, EUIPO – Presentation
Mike Suffield, Director of Professional Insights, ACCA – Presentation
Nelson Ferreira, Adviser, OCC – Presentation
Morten Moller, Network Coordinator, Early Warning Europe – Presentation
Moderator: Robin Jarvis, Professor of Accounting and Finance, Brunel University London
13:00 Lunch break
14:30 Session III: Smarter – The Digital Transformation [video]
Panellists share their experience on the digitalisation of Professional Accountancy Bodies as well as on how to effectively support SMPs as they undertake their digital transformation.
Bart Van Coile, President, ITAA
Ardiana Bunjaku, Executive Director, SCAAK – Presentation
Esteban Romero-Frías, Chair of the Economistas Digital Working Group
Patrick de Veer, Founder Greenaumatic – Presentation [video]
Moderator: Martin de Bie, Chair of EFAA Digital Working Group
