What are your expectations of financial service providers? Take my own recent experience in trying to get a transfer of 400 euros from London to Dublin. On telephoning my bank to find out what steps I should take I was told it was a simple procedure I could even do online if I preferred. I did. And yes it was simple.  

Mazars’ Tim Davies says more work needs to be done on understanding the difference between evasion and avoidance following Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement that he is “shocked” to learn that some of the UK’s wealthiest are paying on average just 10% income tax.

Coping with the twin peaks of regulatory and economic challenges ahead is forcing banks to take a long hard look at their model. Given the magnitude of these tasks, Jonathan McMahon, a Partner in Banking at Mazars flags up the key consequences of measures being introduced and highlights how decisions made now will impact the shape of banking in the future.

Proposals that change Indian tax law retrospectively to allow tax to be charged on cross-border acquisitions involving local assets follow hot on the heels of Vodafone winning a five-year battle with the Indian tax authorities. The case related to its 2007 acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa’s local business, in which the tax at stake was a staggering $2.2 billion. If retrospective legislation is introduced, it will effectively reverse the Indian Supreme Court’s decision in the Vodafone case.  

Widely seen as a-once-in-a generation change, at the heart of the retail distribution review (RDR) lies clarity and transparency for consumers. Hannah Beecham talks to John Husselbee, CEO of North Investment Partners about the potential squeeze on pricing and how performance at any cost is no longer acceptable. He explains how the fund management industry is playing its part in helping advisers deliver a better model for managing expectations.

As tough market conditions force companies to search for innovative and fresh ways of attracting consumer attention, experiential marketing techniques are becoming increasingly popular. Why? Because it’s a way to attract consumer attention through deep brand engagement, which can establish a brand loyalty that can last for years to come. 

The financial crisis brought an end to almost a decade of strong economic growth and exposed a number of vulnerabilities in the banking sector. Basel III is intended by its drafters to help prevent such a crisis from happening again. But unintended consequences may see strategic decisions being made that are less aligned with safe banking practices, in an attempt to meet the short-term interests of shareholders.

The satisfaction that derives from filling a demanding role with the most capable and dynamic recruit is as sweet as it can be profitable. So why has the government thrown a spanner in the recruitment works of corporate Britain, by tightening up immigration rules in such a way that they threaten the country’s global position as a jurisdiction the rest of the world can “do business with?” 

As an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism, mediation is increasingly becoming the accepted alternative to litigation. In Hong Kong it’s a route that offers greater flexibility in terms of settlement, is often seen as more practical and saves time and money. The voluntary process introduces an impartial party to assist in reaching a settlement acceptable to all. 

Henry Ford famously said that if he had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses. In other words it is down to the vision and innovation of those in the industry that we now enjoy the convenience of cars. Similarly, the charity sector is facing its own Henry Ford moment as a review of the Charities Act 2006 examines how to modernise the sector in line with economic and social changes so it remains fit for purpose. 

When asked in which sector they would most want to make a difference as an entrepreneur, 36% of respondents to the Your Big Year survey said they wanted to make their mark in the NGO and charity sectors. Despite 44% of respondents opting to make a difference in the finance sector, the survey results show signs of a move away from the more traditional industries entrepreneurs often align themselves with.

A list of the forthcoming Mazars seminars taking place over May and June across the UK. Including the hidden pensions bombshells you can't afford to miss, tips on doing business overseas and board effectiveness for financial directors.