VisitScotland are hoping that the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will act as a “springboard” for the country’s tourism industry.

Up to 1.5 million visitors are expected to go to Glasgow later this month as a part of the Commonwealth Games.

Tourism agency, VisitScotland, has been working with local businesses to try and make the most of the opportunity.

The agency announced plans for a £2.5m marketing drive last year, to promote the Games around the world, which they hoped would encourage more visitors to Scotland.

VisitScotland CEO Malcolm Roughead said: “2014 presents a unique opportunity for Scottish tourism – not only as a chance to promote our country to a global audience, but also to leave a legacy for the industry, developing skills that will pave the way for a Scotland that is more accessible, more sustainable and even more welcoming.

“It is important that visitors coming to Scotland this year, leave impressed not just by our scenery, wildlife and landmarks but by our people and our facilities.

“This helps raise our standing on the international stage and makes Scotland a place of interest for visitors and for other businesses.”

Roughead added: “Improving skills and standards helps attract more visitors, which in turn creates more jobs and boosts the economy. For every £50,000 spent by visitors, one new job is created.

“Tourism is one of the country’s most important industries and worth £11bn to the Scottish economy, but there is the potential for further growth.

“We must use major events such as the Commonwealth Games as a significant springboard for our future.”

Location: Bejing, China

Closing Date: 11th October

Overview:

This position is reponsible for managing the overall accounts payable activities of NBA China. The role also provides ongoing support to the finance controller on other accounting and reporting areas.

Major Responsibilities:

• Supervise the accounts payable team and be responsible for the overall management and controls around the company’s accounts payable function to comply with internal controls and policies, USGAAP as well as the statutory requirements.
• Coordinate with the team in US and China to successfully transfer the payment process in Greater China from the current platform to Concor/SAP
• Reporting to finance controller and assist in the execution of financial controls. Ensure compliance of financial policies and that adequate process controls are in process
• Review month end AP closing result and make sure of its accuracy. Prepare/review accounts reconciliations.
• Communicate with both local and global team on AP processes and policies.
• Ensure the correct expenses booking and review the P/L with FP&A team on the monthly basis.
• Partner with legal and procurement on the P2P process. Update policies and deliver trainings every year.

Required Experience & Knowledge:

• Minimum 8 years experiences in finance and accounting, especially in accounts payable.
• Fully conversant with China GAAP and US GAAP
• Detail oriented, sensitive to numbers and be able to read behind the numbers
• Organized and able to work in pressurized enviroment to meet strict deadlines
• Fluent in Mandarin and English
• Experiences in closing full set of books at multinational company is preferred.
• SAP experiences are preferred

Educational Background Required:

Degree in accounting, finance, economics or related fields.

Professional accounting qualification in preferred.

How to Apply 

Click HERE to apply

Red Bull Racing have announced the renewal of their partnership with Pepe Jeans London.

Pepe Jeans became a Team Partner in 2010, clinic with their branding prominent on cars during four double World Championship-winning seasons and will continue their long running relationship with the Team as Official Jeans Supplier.

Find out more HERE.

UK television channel Dave has acquired the rights to air British boxer David Haye’s comeback fight against Australian Mark de Mori.

Haye and de Mori will go head to head on 16 January at London’s O2 Arena.

Read more HERE.

The English Football League has announced that chairman Greg Clarke will be stepping down from his role at the end of the 2015/16 season.

Clarke has been the chairman of the Football League for the past six years, having been appointed in March 2010.

Greg Clarke said: “It has been a tremendous privilege to serve Football League clubs over the last six years, they are very much the heart and soul of football in this country. 

“I leave with The Football League in excellent health and with solid foundations in place. Our clubs are largely in better financial shape, there is a greater solidarity between our three divisions and we have a cohesive Board that is providing progressive leadership to our members. 

“Therefore, it is exactly the right time to pass on the baton to my successor. I wish them every success and hope they get as much enjoyment and satisfaction from this role as I have.” 

Shaun Harvey, The Football League’s Chief Executive said: “It has been a huge pleasure to work with Greg, firstly in club football, then as a member of the League Board and, more recently, as the League’s Chief Executive, with his knowledge and counsel being absolutely invaluable to me. 

The Football League Board has agreed a process for identifying Clarke’s successor that will be led by its independent directors Richard Bowker and Debbie Jevans.

They will head a nomination committee that will also include a Board representative from each of the League’s three divisions. The process will begin in January with the new Chairman appointed before the end of the season. 

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law that will allow private companies to swap facilities built for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi for government land.

The law, order which came into effect on Monday, means that all privately-owned Olympic facilities and the ones under the Olimpstroi Corporation, will be eligible for the swap.

Olimpstroi, founded in 2007 and set to be dissolved at the end of the year, was created to build venues such as the Fisht Olympic Stadium and the Bolshoi Ice Dome.

It is believed that Russian Railways could benefit the most from the new law, with reports saying that many of the railroads in and around Sochi would qualify.

The government would have to purchase railroad sites from Mechel, a company with severe debt, with value of the railroad coming from its closeness to the Elga Coal Deposit – one of the biggest in the world.

F1 track to be complete in August

In other news, the Formula One track in Sochi is set to be complete by August 10.

The country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Kozak said: “The construction works are going according to schedule, and by August 10, the construction and installation work at the site should be completed.

“For a long time, since the Soviet Union, there has been a dream of having a Formula One race in our country. Here, if it had not been for the Olympic Games, we would not have had a chance to have the race.”

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