Going East: Doing Business in Asia

The recent Asia Task Force: Doing Business in Asia meetings have shed light on the global reach of what we do and how it translates across continents.

It also served to highlight truly emerging markets. According to UKTI:

*Southern China continues to be a key driver of China's rapid growth. 

*The region's largest economy, Guangdong province, is still first nationally for export/import volumes. Although hit hard and early by the global economic slowdown (600,000 job losses earlier in the year),

*Guangdong is likely to be among the first to recover as the provincial government presses ahead with transforming the province's industrial structure from low-cost, labor intensive production to hi-tech, value-added, innovative and service oriented industry. 

*Guangdong's GDP bounced back to 7.1% for the first half of 2009, and it continues to register growth in attracting FDI, against a drop nationally of 20%. 

Knowing where to go is only half the equation. Understanding cultural norms, how to translate (operationally) best practices and the timing and constraints around implementing projects are true keys to success.

XBRL: Four little letters to move you forward

As an active participant and leader in the XBRL discussion, here's a quick post for our followers to view the XBRL Global Adoption presentation for reference from July.

Click here.

Budgets don't grow with compliance regulations

As with any business, one thing always holds true:

Costs must continually be reduced without sacrificing results

That doesn’t mean that regulations and compliance rules will reduce, or deadlines extend. Smarter technology is needed to keep up.

Simply, can you currently:

Manage content for schedules of investments, financial statements, financial highlights notes, letters to shareholder?

Accelerate review, proofing and approval in a manageable and structured processes?

Pull financial data from your fund accounting systems?

Automatically replicate changes to the same data in all related documents?

Without covering the blocking and tackling, you leave your processes open to error and run the risk of budget overruns.

Budgets don't grow with compliance regulations

As with any business, one thing always holds true:

Costs must continually be reduced without sacrificing results

That doesn't mean that regulations and compliance rules will reduce, or deadlines extend. Smarter technology is needed to keep up.

Ask yourself, are we able to:

Manage content for schedules of investments, financial statements, financial highlights notes, letters to shareholder?



Accelerate review, proofing and approval in a manageable and structured processes?

Pull financial data from your fund accounting systems?

Automatically replicate changes to the same data in all related documents?

Without covering the blocking and tackling, you leave your processes open to error and run the risk of budget overruns.

Financial Reporting: There is a better mouse trap

Is there such a thing as a better mouse trap? If it catches a mouse, that’s good enough, right?

Not quite.

As the Financial Industry has morphed to keep up with online innovation and deliver better services to its customers, the internal financial reporting systems have severely lagged behind (think type-setting, not real-time data).

Having listened to the market, and clearly identified gaps in the process, we pulled together a team of financial pro’s and technologists to deliver what is sorely needed: a Web-based financial reporting tool that integrates the data with a customizable, rules-based workflow, and delivers direct PDF output at any point in the process to reduce costs and increase speed in producing the final, printed report.

As deadlines shorten and disclosure requirements change, how will you keep up?

Simply catching the mouse is no longer enough.

Pushing Innovation in Financial Services

Merrill Corporation has established a strong reputation of service and solutions for the Financial Services industry.

As the global markets continue to change, we’re moving to extend our leadership position and connect customers and the industry with expert information.

Through our blog, Website and Social Media sites, we’ll be delivering expert information and advice to help our clients and the industry navigate change.

Whether it is changes from the SEC on Financial Reporting, or Summary Prospectus; or discussing ways to move Financial Reporting offshore, we are focused on educating and delivering the solutions that will make a difference for clients and the industry where it counts – reducing expense, managing workflow and improving service.

Thanks for joining and following.