Corporate planning is particularly challenging in times of various disruptions. Sustainability reporting and the Ukraine war are having an impact on controlling and accounting.
The mechanical and plant engineering sector continues to struggle significantly with the effects of the global crises. With production expected to fall by two percent in 2023 for the German mechanical and plant engineering sector, companies will be confronted primarily with the challenges of a shortage of skilled workers in the future – according to the industry update at the start of the “Controlling and Accounting” experience exchange on April 19, 2023.
The reporting and transparency requirements of the EU Taxonomy Regulation were the subject of lively discussion among the participants. Andreas Dumbeck, Key Manager New Business Development, and Markus Kassing, Key Sales Manager, of Schufa Holding AG presented the requirements that have been or will be imposed on companies along the Schufa ESG Solution. For example, sustainability reports will be mandatory for companies with more than 250 employees from the 2025 financial year onwards.
Jörg Scholtka, speaker of the VDMA’s Business Advisory, addressed the new risk inventory list and the 30 future topics of controlling in his contribution, in addition to the accounting of war-related expenses. He also presented the results of the VDMA survey on financial ratios.
Furthermore, he referred to the software solution PCF-Starter, which the VDMA has developed together with the software company tanso. This pragmatic calculator for calculating the CO2 footprint is available to VDMA member companies for free use
The revised Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) was also addressed. This addresses the secure IT and OT operations of companies in EU member countries and is intended to increase the cyber resilience of the information systems in operation. In particular, the personal liability of management in the event of non-compliance with this directive must be taken into account. Even though the directive is not expected to be transposed into national law until Q4 2024, it is recommended to deal with the procurement the operation of the necessary IT systems at an early stage.
Further information
Organizer
The event was offered by ProduktionNRW. ProduktionNRW is the cluster of mechanical engineering and production technology in North Rhine-Westphalia and is organized by VDMA NRW. ProduktionNRW sees itself as a platform to connect, inform and market companies, institutions and networks among each other and along the value chain. Significant parts of the services provided by ProduktionNRW are funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.