Founded in April 2009, the Volkswagen Group's Institute for Finance and Controlling unites the areas of accounting, controlling, treasury, taxation and customs at AutoUni. The Institute's role is to apply scientific know-how obtained from universities, business schools and technical colleges in the above areas. Its goals are to provide the entire Group with tailor-made events relating to finance and controlling and to offer a platform for the exchange of research expertise. Based on these goals, the Group benefits from know-how relating to developments in international financial reporting and tax/customs legislation, not to mention the latest findings and revised methods in the areas of controlling, treasury and risk management. A key component of the Institute's work is the networking of departments and subsidiaries. In addition, research activities are carried out in conjunction with dissertations and Diploma and Master's theses. The Finance and Controlling area offers the Group well-balanced and high-quality continuing education events in the form of lectures and seminars. These centre on the core subjects of accounting, controlling, treasury, taxation and customs. Compact seminars provide, for example, fundamental know-how of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The goal in this case is to ensure a uniform level of expertise throughout the Volkswagen Group. This simplifies communication, reduces errors and encourages the use of standardised financial terminology across the Group. Meanwhile, in-depth seminars such as "Balanced scorecard" and the "German Accounting Law Modernization Act" communicate comprehensive specialist know-how. These events deal with specific sub-areas of accounting, controlling, treasury, taxation and customs, highlighting current issues. Evening lectures complete the range of events on offer. A finance course lasting several months is under development. Taking selected problems as a basis, the goal here is to network the participants and, in turn, the departments across both specialist fields and the company itself.