Search: financial focus

A recent fine imposed by the Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) underscores the importance of businesses reporting sanctions non-compliance promptly, and that failure to do so may be costly, writes financial crime and compliance specialist Stacy Keen. The regulator recently issued

Demand for tax and consulting services has pushed EY's global revenue up by 4% to $53.2 billion (c. £39.6bn) for the financial year ending June 2025.

Aberdeen-founded environmental and engineering solutions firm RSK Group has reported a 21% rise in revenue to £2.2 billion for the financial year ending 6 April 2025. The results also showed a 13% increase in net fee income to £1.1bn and a 34% rise in cash at bank to £176.8 million

Michael Jamieson discusses the financial challenges that recent changes to the UK's inheritance tax rules present to family-run businesses in Scotland and outlines various strategies to help mitigate their impact. In last year’s Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced a number of significant c

Craft beer company BrewDog has reported losses of nearly £37 million for the last financial year as sales growth slowed to a near standstill, compounding a turbulent period following the departure of its co-founders. In a recent update to shareholders, the Scottish brewer revealed that sales g

Scottish green chemical manufacturer Celtic Renewables has bolstered its senior leadership team with the appointment of Kerry Crawford as chief financial officer and Bettina Brierley as chief commercial officer. Ms Brierley and Ms Crawford have been brought on as Celtic Renewables seeks to scale up

B Corp certified accountancy firm Cooper Parry (CP) has named Oliver Vaughan as its new chief financial officer. Mr Vaughan brings with him a wealth of experience in financial leadership, strategic growth and operational excellence. With a career spanning over two decades, Mr Vaughan has held s

HSBC reported first-quarter financial results for 2025 that surpassed analyst expectations, despite showing year-on-year declines primarily due to the impact of prior-year business disposals. Alongside the results, HSBC unveiled plans for a new share buyback programme of up to $3 billion (c. £

Annual statistics for the financial year 2024-2025 show a slight increase in corporate insolvencies in Scotland, contrasted by a notable decrease in personal insolvencies. There were 1,175 corporate insolvencies recorded, representing a marginal 0.6% rise from the previous year (1,168) and a 3.8% in

Scottish biotechnology firm MiAlgae has appointed Simon Durrant as chief financial officer (CFO) as it prepares for significant growth, including a new industrial-scale production facility in Scotland planned for later this year. MiAlgae’s circular technology repurposes by-products from whisky

While much attention was focused on last week’s Spring Statement delivered by Rachel Reeves, most employers are preparing themselves for later this week when her plan to increase National Insurance Contributions (NIC), outlined in the Autumn Budget, comes into effect, writes Craig Rothnie. Whe

Geoff Jacobs and Alistair McAlinden have been appointed as joint administrators to Dovetail Enterprises (1993) Limited, trading as Dovetail, on 28 March 2025. Dovetail is a well-known registered charity and manufacturer of safety doors, mattresses and bed bases. The business, which is based in Dunde

Lloyds Banking Group has announced it is strategically enhancing its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities by training 200 senior leaders through an intensive 80-hour programme – "Leading with AI". Delivered in partnership with training provider Cambridge Spark and experts from Cambridge U

The financial woes at notable Scottish universities are making headlines. Faced with rising costs, including staff pension provisions and salaries and new immigration rules (responsible in part for reduced income streams), decision makers at the University of Edinburgh and University of Dundee face

The University of Dundee is facing a "real possibility" of insolvency after admitting to "misleading" financial information, Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) have been told.