A GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL MEETINGS

FRS 102 Revised Seminar Brings South Yorkshire Finance Leaders Together

In collaboration with Shorts Chartered Accountants, we recently hosted a seminar for senior finance professionals from across the region.The event brought together a number of Finance Directors, Financial Controllers and senior leaders from across the region for a morning of insight, discussion and networking over breakfast. It was a pleasure to welcome so many familiar faces, alongside new contacts, reflecting the strength and depth of the Yorkshire finance community. The seminar was presented by Howard Freeman, Audit & Accounts Partner, and Andy Ryder, Corporate Finance Partner at Shorts. We are extremely grateful to both speakers for sharing their time and expertise, and for delivering a clear, practical overview of the forthcoming changes to FRS 102, which came into effect on 1 January 2026 and are expected to impact a significant number of UK businesses. The session explored what is changing and why, particularly in relation to lease accounting and revenue recognition, and considered what the updates mean in practice for finance teams and business leaders. The speakers also addressed the new reporting requirements under FRS 102, the potential impact on EBITDA and valuation methodologies, and the key considerations for organisations as they prepare for implementation. Rather than focusing purely on technical detail, the seminar encouraged broader discussion around readiness, communication with stakeholders and the commercial implications of the changes. This led to a highly engaged Q&A session, with attendees sharing perspectives and experiences from their own organisations. At Sharp Consultancy, we are committed to supporting the finance community beyond recruitment alone. Events such as this form part of our ongoing effort to create opportunities for connection, knowledge-sharing and professional development among senior finance professionals. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Shorts for partnering with us on this event, and in particular to Howard and Andy for delivering such an informative and thought-provoking session. We are also grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. We look forward to hosting further events in the coming months and continuing to work closely with our network of finance leaders across the region.If you would like to discuss how these changes may impact your finance team, or if you are considering strengthening your leadership function, please contact us for a confidential conversation.

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Virtual meetings have become part of many people’s working routine. Platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Hangouts proved invaluable as businesses and organisations strived to keep the wheels of their operations turning whilst employees worked from home at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. And whilst some businesses are starting to see employees make a return to workplaces, the benefits of reduced travel costs and time out of the office means that virtual meetings are set to continue for many.

There are some golden rules to follow to make your virtual meeting run smoothly whether it’s a catch up with your team, a briefing with a business associate or an interview for a new job.

DO approach it with the same level of preparation and professionalism as a face-to-face meeting.
DO check your device settings beforehand to make sure you can hear and be heard clearly.
DO check your surroundings to ensure that anything that can be seen on screen gives the right impression.
DO look into the camera and not at the image of yourself when speaking. If there are a number of people participating, be clear on who you are addressing by including their name in your response.
DO prepare and circulate any useful materials in advance so those involved can digest and consider possible solutions in advance.

DON’T dress casually if it would not appropriate to do so - dress as if you were meeting in person.
DON’T undertake other tasks during the meeting; others will be able to tell that you aren’t fully focused if you are checking emails or sending messages.
DON’T assume people’s availability, especially if they are combining work with childcare. Communicate dates and times in advance to enable suitable arrangements to be put in place.
DON’T forget to involve others. It can be difficult to read body language remotely so include opportunities for participants to contribute to the discussion.
DON’T neglect the basics; prepare an agenda, ensure someone is taking notes and circulate minutes promptly after the meeting.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond CONTACT UStoday to discuss your recruitment needs with a member of our team.