the debate

One of the key problems with the fields of governance, risk and assurance is the absence of challenging debate. We hope to address that.

On this page, we will be posting a series of (usually) polemical essays on these topics. Please feel free to comment . . . whether you agree or disagree.

Healthy debate is essential. Select a topic and join in.

QUICK LINKS TO BLOGS

It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.

Joseph Joubert

MORE FOCUS ON SYSTEMIC RISK

SYSTEMIC RISK: NEXT STEPS

KNOWLEDGE ON GOVERNANCE

PROBLEMS WITH 'RISK CULTURE'

BANKING CRISIS: NO CHANGE

INTERNAL AUDIT: A BAD CRISIS?

THE FRC COMBINED CODE

COMMENT ON WALKER DRAFT

FSA SIF REGIME

REPUTATION RISK IN BANKING

THE HMRC DATA DEBACLE

5 KEY LESSONS ON REPUTATION

RISK MANAGEMENT IN STRATEGY

SYSTEMIC RISK IN FINANCIAL MARKETS

ASSESSMENT OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS

What's next for systemic risk?

Plus ca change . . .

24 September 2010  The most significant unanswered question from the recent financial crisis is: what should we do about systemic risk? This essay begins to address the issue.

4 December 2009  An essay looking at the changes that have occurred to banking regulation and crisis since the crash and what should happen next.

CORPORATE RISK PRACTICE

THE FINANCIAL CRISIS

The 'risk culture' metaphor

Internal auditors: feeling left out of the crisis?

17 September 2010  'Risk culture' is a phrase that rolls off the tongue, but what does it mean? 'Usually very little' would be a fair conclusion. We need to address behavioural aspects of risk. How?

2 December 2009  The financial crisis has led to remarkably little criticism of internal audit. But is it a good thing not to be blamed when everyone else is in the firing line?

THE FRC COMBINED CODE

GOVERNANCE AND RISK IN BANKING

What the FRC should do with the Code . . .

The draft Walker report

1 October 2009  As the FRC prepares to revise the Combined Code, we make some suggestions for improvement to provisions on risk.

1 October 2009  The findings of the Walker review will continue to impact the governance and risk debates in financial services for many years.

CONSULTATION SUBMISSION

REPUTATION RISK

The FSA's signficant influencer regime

A new era for reputation risk in banking?

31 May 2009 The FSA's decision to tighten requirements on directors are welcome but they may not result in the consequences intended by the regulator.

30 May 2009 The Basel Committee has rushed to provide guidance on special purpose vehicles and reputation risk. But have they missed the bigger picture?

PUBLIC AGENCY RISK

REPTUTATION MANAGEMENT

The HMRC data debacle

5 things you need to know about reputation

21 February 2008  The massive data loss from HMRC embarrassed the government, but the real issues were around how risk can be treated in the public sector and in policy.

21 July 2008  For all the talk about reputation and risk, very few firms approach the issue rigorously. We look at 5 key ideas in reputation risk.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGY

Risk management: a vital component of strategy