Managing risk - Ernst & Young - Global

The oil and gas industry has been unevenly impacted by the global economic downturn. However, the turmoil in stock markets and the lower oil price environment has created some new risks that threaten the near-term survival of a number of companies. See which risks are keeping oil and gas executives up at night (pdf, 2.94mb) and learn which measures can be taken to address them now.

Corruption is a growing problem for businesses. Our 10th global fraud survey offers analysis of insights from nearly 1,200 executives into their experiences of bribery and corruption. We also describe the steps to create what we believe is an effective anti-corruption compliance program.

Cross-border transactions are now a major focus for European tax authorities. They have observed the wave of business restructuring over the last decade and its impact on the tax base when a multinational enterprise integrates and rationalizes its European operations. How they deal with these issues is therefore of interest to tax directors responsible for these structures. Read more in this executive summary of Ernst & Young's survey (pdf, 586kb).

Amid the economic downturn, the ever-present threat of fraud grows stronger. Ernst & Young interviewed over 2,200 respondents in 22 countries at European companies for the third in a series of European fraud surveys. Read how driving anti-fraud efforts now can give an organization long lasting benefits.

As industry regulations become more stringent, government and private insurers are placing unprecedented pressures on life sciences companies to demonstrate value for the products they develop. Not surprisingly, this challenge topped the list of the 10 most pressing risks facing the life sciences industry in 2009. Read the press release and report (pdf, 4.61M) for steps which can be taken now to address top risks.

During this financial crisis, strategies for long-term stability are critical to every segment of financial services. Hedge funds, insurers and banks are all seeking to reinvent some aspect of their operations. The new issue of CrossCurrents reports on the approaches businesses are deploying to foster greater transparency, integrate risk processes, leverage IT and manage capital requirements.

What challenges are likely to affect your company in 2009 and beyond? The credit crunch aftershocks and the deepening global recession, rank as the most important business risks for 2009, displacing regulation and compliance from the top spot. Green initiatives, competition from new entrants, human capital issues, and reputational risk all rose in The 2009 Ernst & Young business risk report — the top 10 risks for global business (pdf, 1.9mb).