FRC takes debate to party conferences

THE FINANCIAL REPORTING COUNCIL will take its place at this year’s party conferences, hosting a pair of roundtable events for the first time.

Accountancy heavyweights will meet to discuss financial regulation in the context of the European Union.

Speakers will include Sharon Bowles MEP, chair of the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and one of the most influential voices in the financial services sector.

Joining her at the Liberal Democrat conference in Birmingham will be the FRC’s own Auditing Practices Board chairman Richard Fleck and Lord Richard Newby, a Lib Dem heavyweight on financial and accountancy issues.

In an increasingly EU-focused regulatory environment, the FRC may be considering its future role and the best way to engage on issues such as corporate governance and risk.

Attendees at the roundtable in Manchester, location of the Conservative Party conference, will be treated to a line-up featuring Mark Hoban, financial secretary to the Treasury, Chris Pond, Financial Services Authority head of consumer affairs and FRC chief Stephen Haddrill.

Labour delegates will not have the chance to participate. The FRC said this is due to a major accountancy conference taking place at the same time and a lack of partners willing to back the event.

This is the first time the regulator will have a presence at the conferences, suggesting a desire to boost engagement with EU-wide debate and gain a handle on the political architecture.

Attendance is by invitation only.