Retail & Consumer

Supply chain management encompasses the multitude of processes and operations that transform raw materials into products and distribute those products through retail sales channels. As a result of profit pressures, the availability of new technologies, and the emphasis on value enhancement, the supply chain has been redefined and is now viewed as a strategic element offering companies opportunities for greater collaboration and cost efficiencies, improved inventory management, real-time communication, better supplier / provider relationships, and overall, operational excellence.

Global markets have made the supply chain more complex than ever to manage. So, in order to remain competitive, companies must place greater attention on improving and optimising their supply chains. Optimisation of the supply chain is particularly critical to retail and consumer products companies. R&C companies with extended supply chains are being challenged to eliminate waste, improve supplier relations, better manage inventory and be more cost efficient in operating their far-flung operations.

How can PwC help you

PwC provides the following services to assist companies with optimising the supply chain:

• manufacturing and distribution: we assist with import/export restraints, consumer demand and competitive pricing; and provide guidance in cost and inventory management, restructuring, distribution channels, and customer services.
• performance improvement: our service offerings include internal audit, behavioural transformation, human resources services, governance, risk and compliance, process improvement, risk & value management, security & technology, and sustainability services.
• Supply chain risk management: we offer protection and management of brands and corporate reputations by mitigating the social, ethical, and environmental risks across your company’s entire supply chain.

With the move to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for many of the world's public companies and the far-reaching mandates of Sarbanes-Oxley, financial accounting has become a lot more complicated. And if the past few years are any guide, the future holds more regulations, new requirements, and an increasing compliance burden. As business becomes more global, with new markets opening up seemingly every day, a company’s financial accounting must meet global standards.

If this is your situation

• You want to keep up-to-date on developments in domestic and international financial reporting.
• You made an acquisition and need to harmonise your accounting policies.
• The adoption and implementation of new IFRS, creates the need for staff training and the need for reliable and comprehensive accounting guidance and training.
• You are already familiar with your national GAAP, but need to understand how IFRS compares.
• You have a small finance function and would appreciate support from financial reporting specialists.
• You have a difficult technical accounting issue that you cannot solve in-house.

How can PwC help you

For all organisations that need high quality accounting advice, PwC has the breadth and depth of knowledge and technical expertise to help. We are the world’s leading audit and assurance organisation. Our financial accounting and accounting technical advice, support tools, guidance, and training will help improve the quality of your company’s financial reporting.

Our service offering includes:

• accounting and regulatory advice on IFRS and your national GAAP, including specialists in complex areas such as process improvement, information security, valuations, pensions and share programs, listings, IFRS conversions, corporate treasury, company secretarial and corporate governance;
• Comperio, an online library of global financial reporting literature;
• national accounting guides;
• accounting developments seminars;
• technical update seminars on corporate governance and financial reporting;
• in-house training and e-learning courses tailored for individual companies.

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is systematic approach to identifying and managing an organisation’s business risks. ERM offers a proven method to align risk appetite with strategic goals, deploy resources more effectively, reduce operational surprises and losses, and improve risk response.

Managing enterprise risk is particularly challenging for retail and consumer products companies. The growing globalisation trend and the need to operate in business environments with different cultures, laws, and environmental concerns, along with the complexity of sourcing materials and human capital for manufacturing or final sale of the product, creates a number of potential risks for retail and consumer companies.

How can PwC help you

PwC can help retail and consumer companies address risk in several key areas, including:

• fraud and antifraud programmes (detection and prevention)
• crisis management
• business recovery services
• dispute analysis & investigations
• forensic accounting
• internal control assessment
• process improvement and operational effectiveness
• security & technology solutions (IT business risk management, data management, and information security)
• audit and compliance
• sustainability
• risk & value management
• human resource services