Reportwatch

"In 1959, IBM hired Paul Rand, a prominent book designer, to create its annual report. As a result, the high-concept annual report was born." (Addison Annual Report Handbook 2004/2005)

"Reporting is not just about complying."
(Tony Comper, former CEO of BMO: N°1 Annual Report in the financial sector in the 2002, 2006 and 2007 Annual Report on Annual Reports)

"A good annual report has a value similar to a one-on-one meeting with investors."
(Richard Carpenter, Managing Partner at Merchant, a leading British communication consultancy, in “Who’s doing what?”, December 2008)

"As we rethink the regulatory model, now is the time to rethink the reporting model."
(David Phillips, senior corporate reporting partner at PwC, in Financial Times Accountancy column, December 11, 2008)

Reporting is, more than ever, a delicate balance. Between: current shareholders and potential investors, freedom of speech (not less) and compliance (mandatory), substance and style, stockholders and other stakeholders, content and appeal, thoroughness and brevity, information (overload) and communication (overuse), printed and electronic reporting tools, the talk and the walk.

• KRAs: Key Report Attributes
• KFRIs: Key Financial Reporting Indicators
• KFRMs: Key Financial Reporting Missteps
• Making Reports Pay Off
• Report Essentials
• Report of the month