Preparing for the Unexpected: Accountants’ Role in Business Continuity and Recovery

Description

It is Friday evening, and as you prepare to leave the office, you receive alarming news: a major fire has broken out at one of your company’s key manufacturing facilities in Singapore. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the damage is extensive. Production is halted, and the ripple effect is immediate — clients are calling about delayed orders, overseas partners need updates, and suppliers are demanding clarity on payments. As the accountant, you are now at the centre of the recovery effort, tasked with assessing the financial impact, managing strained cash flows, and working with insurers and suppliers to keep the company afloat.

In Singapore’s manufacturing sector, where high efficiency is paramount and disruptions can have significant financial consequences, accountants play a vital role in continuity planning. In this practical workshop, you will learn how you can respond effectively to operational crises like these, uphold ethical standards in tough decisions, and navigate the financial complexities that arise when the unexpected strikes. This is about equipping you to protect your company’s resilience and maintain financial stability through challenging times.

Programme Outline

• Introduction to Business Continuity and Recovery for Accountants
• Risk Identification and Impact Assessment
• Ethics in Business Continuity and Recovery
• Developing an Accountant-Centric Business Continuity Plan
• Crisis Communication and Decision-Making
• Lessons Learned and Building Long-Term Resilience
• Wrap-Up and Q&A

This workshop qualifies for:
5.0 CPE hours in Other Relevant Expertise; and
2.0 CPE hours in Ethics and Professionalism (Category 2)

What you will learn

• Equip accountants with a practical understanding of their role in business continuity and recovery planning.
• Provide insights into risk identification, assessment, and management from an accountant’s perspective.
• Explore ethical challenges and responsibilities in managing crises and recovery processes.
• Offer actionable strategies for accountants to support organizational resilience and ethical integrity during unexpected disruptions.
• Acquire the tools to develop, assess, and communicate an accountant-focused business continuity plan.

The workshop provides a mix of theoretical knowledge, practical exercises, and ethical reflection designed to build both technical competence and ethical awareness in crisis management.

 

Prerequisites

Familiarity with risk management concepts and business continuity planning is helpful but not required.

Target Audience

• Accountants
• Financial controllers
• Finance professionals
• Auditors who support risk management and business continuity efforts within their organizations

Expert Speaker

Kingston Low

Kingston is a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience in Corporate Governance, Internal Audit, Risk Management, and Business Continuity Management (BCM). Holding multiple prestigious certifications including CA, CIA, CISA, CRMA, CBCP, and FFP, he brings a wealth of practical insights and expertise to the training environment.

With a career spanning over two decades, he has advised numerous boards and businesses on improving governance, productivity, and overall effectiveness. This includes providing strategic advisories, conducting trainings, and offering assurance services that have resulted in business redesign, risk mitigation, efficiencies, and cost savings. He is also actively involved in professional training initiatives and his training sessions are known for being engaging, practical, and designed to empower participants with the skills necessary to excel in their roles.

Throughout his career, Kingston has remained committed to sharing best practices, fostering organizational resilience, and preparing professionals to navigate complex governance and risk management landscapes. Participants can expect a dynamic learning experience that combines theoretical foundations with real-world insights, ensuring maximum impact and applicability.