Member Article

Member News: Newcastle University shares how they plan for the future

Local businesses attended a Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) event on the 13th October at the newly opened Newcastle University Business School where they found out how the University is responding to the Government’s radical overhaul of Higher Education funding in England.

Chartered Management Accountants and their guests from around Tyne & Wear learned how Newcastle University’s clear strategic vision was preparing the institution for some of the most far-reaching reforms ever to affect the Higher Education sector.

With the advent of higher tuition fees in 2012 and recent cuts in High Education Funding the Finance team at Newcastle University remains focussed on ensuring that the student experience academic excellence are the key priorities. The University has made substantial investments to teaching and learning facilities and £60m of improvements into the campus and estate. Local businesses were given an insight into how they could apply the same approach while their turnovers are fluctuating due to the recession; a clear and well communicated strategy, riding out periods of poor revenue and planning for when they return with the overall aims of the business driving their financial decisions.

Richard Dale, Financial Director at Newcastle University gave the keynote speech: “It can be easy to forget that although the University is not a business it needs to be business like when it comes to finances. Financial plans, budgets and controls need to be robust but the key is to ensure that they support the wider objectives of the organisation being met.”

Howard Whitehead, CIMA Regional Chairman of North East England, says, ‘Chartered Management Accountants operate in all areas of business in both financial and non-financial roles. Their commercial and forward looking focus, training, experience and professionalism provides them with a unique insight into how organisations operate and they can make a significant contribution to any business.’

CIMA run a series of events for students, members and guests throughout the North East and across the UK on a regular basis across the year. For further information visit [www.cimaglobal.com/localevents](http://bdaily.info/member/content/stories/add/redir.aspx?C=1bd48aded7d64b20b891e4b889bad5f9&URL=http://www.cimaglobal.com/localevents“ target=)

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by CIMA UK Regional News .