ICAEW.com works better with JavaScript enabled.
Corporate Finance Faculty

Corporate Finance technical and best practice guidelines

Read the ICAEW's Corporate Finance Faculty's guidelines and reports on the key features of corporate finance including the latest developments and market trends in mergers and acquisitions, transaction services and risk management, private equity and buy-outs and the role of finance in economic growth.

AI in corporate finance

The Corporate Finance Faculty have brought together insights and resources on how AI is being used in corporate finance to help you better understand the application benefits and risks, as well as the practical considerations as you begin to revolutionise how deals are done.
Find out more
Definitions of AI portrait

Commercial due diligence

This guideline explores how commercial due diligence (CDD) contributes to the investment decision-making process, the best practices and emerging trends that can enhance its quality and effectiveness, and the responsibilities of the various parties involved.
Download the guideline
Telescope viewer with city skyline

Cyber Security in Corporate Finance

Our Cyber Security in Corporate Finance guideline aims to help organisations manage cyber risk and improve its governance, setting out good practice within the context of a corporate finance transaction.
Read more
Woman in white long sleeve t shirt wearing vr glasses connecting and access to digital world data by hand fingerprint on virtual screen.

Business Finance Guide

This independent guide draws on the expertise of partners from across the finance industry and business community to provide information on the financing options that may be available to entrepreneurs, startups and businesses at every stage of development.
Read the guide
Seedling being watered

Best practice guidelines

These are guides on best market practice on the latest developments and market trends in mergers and acquisitions, transaction services and raising finance.
Displaying 1-10 of 17 results
Commercial due diligence
  • Report
  • 08 Sep 2025
This guideline explores how commercial due diligence (CDD) contributes to the investment decision-making process, the best practices and emerging trends that can enhance its quality and effectiveness, and the responsibilities of the various parties involved.
Financial due diligence
  • Report
  • 22 Oct 2024
This guideline explores the what, why, who and how of performing effective financial due diligence (FDD) and the outcomes it should achieve. It considers how FDD interacts with other areas of due diligence and how today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape, including AI, is reshaping the FDD process.
Completion mechanisms: Determining the final equity value in transactions, Issue 64
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 29 Jul 2024
  • PDF (1,458kb)
This guideline addresses the principal considerations in the completion process. It compares and contrasts the mechanisms used to establish the final equity value in deals. It also provides commentary on common areas of dispute, together with mitigating actions.
Earn-outs in deals, Issue 70
  • Report
  • 17 Oct 2023
This Corporate Finance Faculty best-practice guideline, authored by Grant Thornton, explores the factors that can influence the outcome of an earn-out agreement, for both the buyer and the seller, and illustrates the benefits and possible pitfalls.
Environmental and social governance in deals and investment, Issue 69
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 18 Oct 2022
  • PDF (3,259kb)
The Corporate Finance Faculty’s best-practice guideline, authored by Deloitte, explores the role ESG plays in creating growth, gaining a competitive edge, and accessing affordable capital.
Exclusive Public to private transactions (Best practice guideline 68)
  • Report
  • 29 Sep 2021
  • PDF (290kb)
Devised and commissioned by ICAEW’s Corporate Finance Faculty and published with PwC and Travers Smith, this guidance looks at an important type of corporate transaction.
ICAEW and the creative industries
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 16 Nov 2020
The creative industries are major contributors to culture, the economy and innovation. They’re fast growing and employ more than three million people – across film, fine arts, design, music, video games, fashion, TV, crafts, publishing, radio, photography and heritage.
Debt for deals
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 26 Oct 2018
Debt for deals outlines the main features of the UK’s debt market, explores how it has developed since the start of the financial crisis in 2008 and offers guidance to corporate finance advisers and company executives on how to access the right debt finance for deals.
Exclusive Contemporary valuation issues in deals, Issue 66
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 08 Nov 2017
  • PDF (1,326kb)
Valuation is critical within deals and a key part of the decision-making process. This guideline seeks to shed light on emerging valuation issues that practitioners will encounter on deals involving businesses in pre-, during- and post-deal environments.
Growth through asset based finance, Issue 65
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 09 May 2017
  • PDF (574kb)
Asset based finance (ABF) is increasingly being used as a source of funding by high growth companies – from small businesses, to those owned by private equity, to innovative businesses and subsidiaries of some of the world’s largest companies.
Displaying 1-10 of 17 results

Technical releases

These are 'How to' guides on preparing data under regulatory requirements that affect corporate financiers.
Displaying 1-3 of 3 results
Tech 04/20CFF Guidance for preparers of prospective financial information
  • Technical release
  • 05 Mar 2020
  • PDF (379kb)
ICAEW’s technical release TECH 04/20CFF Guidance for preparers of prospective financial information is a preparation framework for financial forecasts or projections, including forecasts prepared for public and private market finance-raising.
Guidance for preparers of pro forma financial information (TECH 06/15 CFF, TECH 01/15 CFF updated)
  • Technical release
  • 06 Oct 2015
  • PDF (293kb)
This Technical Release is issued in the context of the Prospectus Directive (Directive 2003/71/EC) and provides practical help for applying the preparation and presentation requirements of the Prospectus Directive Regulation.
Guidance on financial position and prospects procedures (TECH 14/14 CFF, TECH 01/13 updated)
  • Technical release
  • 01 Jul 2014
  • PDF (279kb)
TECH 14/14CFF addresses a regulatory requirement of companies seeking to list on a UK market. The guidance is aimed at directors and reporting accountants. TECH 14/14CFF should be implemented for listing processes beginning on or after 1 December 2014.
Displaying 1-3 of 3 results

Join the Corporate Finance Faculty

Join the largest network of professionals involved in corporate finance and access a range of authoritative best-practice and technical guidelines. Keep on top of emerging trends and policy issues.

Image of people in an office meeting