Equinox news

12 December 2008
Fast Close: from best practice to finance-industry standard

Speeding up the year-end closing process is a major challenge for banking and insurance professionals.

At Equinox Consulting, we have extensive year-end closing experience. We present an overview of the different closing methods used and the results achieved in an article that also offers insight into how the race against the clock risks diverting the business' attention away from fundamental finance issues like assessing risk, ensuring the accuracy of financial data and providing quality financial communication.
Read article Fast Close: from best practice to finance-industry standard

Learn more about our services targeting the finance function



05 December 2008
Investing in the future: Equinox Consulting employees contribute to school renovation project at this year’s annual seminar.
Equinox Consulting decided to support a sustainable development project in Morocco in partnership with local charity Darnand; all of the firm’s consultants participated in the initiative at the annual employee seminar.

Before / After Darnand was founded in 2002 in the rural community of Amizmiz in Dar El Jamaa. The local charity brings together residents from different douars (villages) who want to implement projects to improve their living conditions. Ali, an agronomist, heads the organization, which aims to: - Teach the local population modern, sustainable, healthy and environmentally-friendly agricultural techniques. - Raise awareness of environmental issues, including conserving natural resources and water. - Roll out local sustainable development projects that generate revenue in order to stem the flow of populations from rural to urban areas. - Develop responsible rural tourism. - Encourage school attendance and keep schools open.

Equinox Consulting decided to support a project to increase school attendance and keep schools open in the district of Dar El Jamaa (which includes 32 douars). The local school did not provide adequate conditions for students:
- There was no running water or toilets (creating further barriers to school attendance for girls).
- The buildings were in poor condition.
- There were not nearly enough teaching materials.
Not only did these conditions make learning difficult, if not impossible; they also encouraged parents to take their children out of school.

Our goal was to renovate the school so that teachers and students would have a sustainable facility for teaching and learning.
The renovation funded by Equinox Consulting took place in August and September 2008. The work included:
- Restoring the inside and outside of the existing school buildings.
- Bringing running water to the school.
- Building toilets.
- Landscaping the grounds.

Finally, the entire team of consultants from Equinox pitched in to finish the work in September, completing the painting and landscaping and decorating the classrooms.

Equinox Consulting is currently working with Darnand to find ways to extend the project into a long-term initiative.

03 December 2008
Equinox Consulting is committed to sustainable development. As part of our strategy, we have decided to offset the firm’s carbon emissions by supporting development projects.
At Equinox Consulting, responsible growth means making sustainable development a part of our long-term strategy.
One of the ways in which our firm achieves this is by supporting initiatives like Good Planet – Action Carbone. In December 2008 we made a donation to this non-profit organization to offset the carbon emissions our employees generated getting to our annual seminar.

Good Planet – Action Carbone reduces greenhouse gas emissions by financing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects run by NGOs in developing nations.

We support this organization’s efforts to fight climate change.
http://www.actioncarbone.org