Preparing an Annual Report

An organisation’s annual report is a wonderful opportunity to tell their story and engage with their stakeholders (i.e. their beneficiaries, members, volunteers, staff, funders, supporters and regulators). It is a valuable instrument to demonstrate good governance, accountability and transparency.

Target Audience

This workshop is aimed at Board Members, Directors, Trustees and CEOs/Managers and anyone involved in preparing an Annual Report for their organisation.

Outline

The aim of this practical hands-on session is to understand the preparation of the Annual Report from the perspective of the Board Members, Directors, Trustees.

This course covers the basics of what is required in an annual report and then focuses on how to use the annual report as a way of showing the public, your members and funders how good your organisation is. The session will involve presentation and working in groups. Participants should bring a copy of their organisation’s most recent annual report with them.

Workshop Facilitator: Diarmaid Ó Corrbuí

Diarmaid Ó Corrbuí, Carmichael CEO, has extensive experience working with boards and providing governance support and advice. He has previously worked as a strategy consultant for over 25 years with Prospectus Strategy Consultants and Accenture. The working with a wide range of organisations in the public, healthcare and not-for-profit sectors on strategy, organisation structures and corporate governance. His core specialties are strategy development and implementation, corporate governance, organisation structures, business planning and project management. He is also a former civil servant having worked in the Departments of Social Welfare and Finance.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will be able to:

• Understand the purpose of the annual report
• Describe the legal requirements for an annual report
• Review annual reports against a set of best practice criteria
• Decide on type of presentation and content
• Plan how to produce an effective annual report for your organisation.