This issue of KPMG's 'Frontiers in Finance' magazine has number of encouraging themes in the changing landscape. We have an economic overview of the possible rebound and in a special feature, we have included views from the market by leading executives in the financial services industry, articles on emerging markets illustrate the continuing increase in Asian power and influence in the global economy

A global survey on telecom Revenue Assurance (RA) functions, conducted to assess the current and future state of RA in the telecoms industry. With the participation of c-level executives and RA Heads, it includes insight into key aspects of RA along with emerging trends and challenges. The report also includes leading practices that RA functions can consider in developing a roadmap for their respective functions.

“Even as the global economy stabilizes, the financial services industry continues to undergo transformational change,” says Brendan Nelson, Global Chairman, Financial Services. This change is being driven by a number of factors, including government and regulatory policy, efforts to significantly reduce costs and streamline operations, and mergers and acquisitions.

This study focuses on the annual reports of 13 central banks from around the globe. The report sets out the commonalities and variations identified. It also contains an essay by IMF staff on trends in financial safeguards frameworks of central banks.

In the current economic climate, the role of the risk management function has never been so prominent to the success of an organisation. Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) processes are often at the centre of change in many leading organisations.

KPMG Publication about Business intelligence and the important role it plays in an organization. The execution of business strategy is often hampered by a lack of reliable information. In today’s turbulent and unpredictable conditions, it’s more important than ever to gain continuous market insight and have the agility to react quickly.

This white paper highlights the value of creating and implementing a governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) architecture.

The past 12 months have seen turmoil in the financial markets and volatility in the oil price. This has meant that both international oil companies and national oil companies have had to try to balance the immediate cash flow needs of their investors/ governments with the need to invest in the future development of reserves.

A new Economist Intelligence Unit report entitled "Managing risk in perilous times: Practical steps to accelerate recovery", issued in May 2009 and sponsored by KPMG International, ACE, SAP and Towers Perrin, explores current thinking around risk management, and proposes ten practical steps that financial institutions could take to strengthen their governance and management of risk.

Many organizations face a continually changing set of pressures and dynamics in the current economic climate. Faced with shrinking markets, they can choose to rationalize, merge or contract. The technology thread which holds systems and processes together is at risk. As a consequence, IT Internal Audit plays an integral role in maintaining discipline and rigor across functions and geographies.

Rescuing a troubled company means coming out of denial, finding cash and thinking the unthinkable. Explore eight guiding principles for a corporate turnaround.

A joint KPMG / EIU survey which investigates the impact of the credit crisis on risk management procedures within the banking sector.