The wonders of virtualisation have stirred up IT departments for the past couple of years, and the technical benefits of the technology have been well-heralded: it simplifies server management, reduces hardware overhead and increases agility. Now, virtualisation is reaching the attention of finance directors.

Last month, I touched on the subject of the changing role of the modern finance director. This month, I'd like to take a look at this issue for FDs in the public sector – and discuss how a new attitude to financing can help them facilitate the shift to a more forward-thinking approach within their organisation.

A recent report by Forrester Research argued that many enterprise software vendors are deliberately using complicated licensing models to make it more difficult for their customers to make comparisons between vendors' offerings.

Access Accounting has launched what it says is the first accounting solution that offers an integrated method of measuring carbon emissions.

With the threat of a recession looming, FDs automatically start thinking about tightening the purse strings. But this is something they should be doing all of the time, argues OCG FD Richard Ingram who believes technology can help them do that.

The government’s amended policy on non-domiciled residents has been praised by business groups. But many have called for additional measures to be introduced to ensure there isn’t a mass exodus of wealthy, and talented, foreign workers.

The seemingly-painless implementation of the much-feared Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) on 1 November last year appears to have been met with relief by some in the financial services industry.

Hot Tuna wanted to have a presence in the Middle East but CFO Ange Hicks says it didn't have enough resources. So, the surf apparel company appointed a distributor.

Despite all the hype around “software as a service”, John Beech, the managing director of Access Accounting, says the market isn’t ready for it yet.

Canon UK FD Terry Smith believes using technology to automate processes is crucial for a business, particularly when it comes to the monitoring and testing of internal controls.