This episode features Oliver Rowe, the editor-in-chief of FM, detailing the contents of the April digital edition of the magazine. Rowe explains how members can access the most recent edition of the online magazine. He also highlights several articles, including this edition’s theme of sustainability. One noteworthy column, on businesses increasingly taking a multicapital approach to maximising value, was written by CIMA President Sarah Ghosh, FCMA, CGMA. Ghosh recently was a guest on the...

Avani Desai, CPA, attended the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in January. It was her first visit to the mountain town’s famed event that brings together world leaders and subject matter experts. In this episode of the FM podcast, Desai reflected on the lessons she learned and on the perspective she gained — as an attendee and a discussion moderator. Desai led a panel discussion on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, and...

Sarah Ghosh, FCMA, CGMA, is most of the way through her one-year term as CIMA president. In this episode of the FM podcast, intended to recognise International Women’s Day, she reflects on people she’s met, questions she’s asked, and progress made on numerous fronts. Ghosh discussed the launch of an AICPA & CIMA mentoring programme, reflected on her background in technology, and shared highlights of her global travels.  FM resources: Article about a finance director on leading with...

Author Alison Taylor, a clinical associate professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, explains the reasons business ethics has become a “confused topic” and why treating ethical problems as “tick-the-box PR” can make leaders look directionless. Taylor’s book, Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World, opens up a discourse on new ways to approach this complex landscape and highlights the importance of prioritising fundamental values, with the...

This episode features an occasional host of previous FM podcasts, Oliver Rowe, who is editor-in-chief of FM. Rowe explains how members can access the most recent edition of the online magazine. He also details some of the articles, including those by AICPA & CIMA leaders. Resources: n  The page for members to access FM editions. n  The public link for FM magazine, featuring news, podcasts, and more. n  A previous, ethics-focused FM podcast episode hosted by Xose Lumor. What...

Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, chief executive—Management Accounting at AICPA & CIMA, made the trip to Orlando, Florida, last week to continue in the knowledge sharing that occurs at the Future of Finance Summit, a US event in its third year and one with companion events in other parts of the world. In this FM episode recorded at the summit, Harding shared key takeaways, insights into the optimism from businesses in China, and why one session topic took him back to his days as a coach on...

A single cybersecurity breach can cost millions of dollars, so it’s critical that companies take a proactive approach and commit to shoring up their defences by making informed decisions and investments. An updated CGMA cybersecurity tool provides a place to start. Ken Witt, CPA, CGMA, AICPA & CIMA's associate director–Management Accounting Research and Development, joins the FM podcast to discuss the latest trends in cybersecurity and share details about what the recently released tool...

Productivity expert and author Hayley Watts discusses the reasons people struggle with productivity and why digital correspondence is, despite its advantages, creating a challenging environment for communication.  Watts spoke at the UK and Ireland ENGAGE several months ago, and she offers tips to help leaders and employees to channel productivity into their working lives.  Watts, a co-author of How to Fix Meetings: Meet Less, Focus on Outcomes and Get Stuff Done, explains why...

New research from AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) found a disconnect between the way leaders operate in day-to-day business and the long-term strategic initatives that keep businesses relevant and competitive amid constant change and transformation.  Peter Spence, associate technical director of management accounting at AICPA & CIMA, and Andy Beanland, a...

This episode of the FM podcast is the start of an occasional series on the show. That series is called Beyond the Code. In this case, that means taking a close look at the CIMA Code of Ethics. Xose Lumor, manager, Advocacy and Professional Ethics – Management Accounting at AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, talks with disputes attorney Alastair Campbell, of the firm Level, about some of the ethical issues that accountants...

It makes sense that the themes emerging from the words of Phillipa Spicer, FCMA, CGMA, and Bruce Martin, ACMA, CGMA, are similar — they are sister and brother, both having ascended to CEO roles in the UK. Spicer set forward on a path to becoming a management accountant, and her younger brother followed. In this conversation, hear about their early trips to the office while growing up in South Africa, the questions they got from students, and the advice they give about being your own self as...

AICPA & CIMA research on the future state of the finance profession found emerging themes from global discussions with leaders around the world. Some of these themes include automation, hybrid working, sustainability, and moving beyond traditional finance roles. Rebecca McCaffry, FCMA, CGMA, associate technical director at AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, discusses the shift from traditional finance in a digital world, to...

Christina Thomas-Lewin, FCMA, CGMA, is now assistant financial controller for a US company, but she got her start in finance in the UK. In this podcast episode, Thomas-Lewin discusses her career moves, the value of lifelong learning, and the meaning behind the phrase “block it out to knock it out.” She also talks about the importance of delivering potentially negative feedback and how that skill can help both employees and managers. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         An...

This episode of the FM podcast focuses on the newly updated Global Management Accounting Principles (GMAPs). The principles, first released nearly 10 years ago, provide a framework for management accountants. The most recent version updates that framework to reflect new business realities. David Hackett, an AICPA & CIMA technical manager, looks back at the previous version of the GMAPs and explains some of the key updates. The GMAPs, scheduled to be featured in detail at a session...

Grace Baxter, ACMA, CGMA, initially thought she would pursue a career in physics. But she’s happy with the switch she made to accounting, where she became CIMA qualified and later landed a role at the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Baxter is now head of management reporting for DEFRA, and she also serves on a CIMA regional advisory group, service that helps her gain perspective from other finance professionals. Baxter shared advice to aspiring accountants...

Genevieve Hawkins, a business leader based in Melbourne, Australia, had a previous career in occupational therapy. That’s one part of her background that contributed to the decision to write a book about workplace mental health. Hawkins said that, in the past, most organisations left mental health to the employee. That’s changing, but it can change more. In this podcast episode, to recognise mental health awareness in the month of May, Hawkins explains simple ways that leaders and companies...

Jeremy Osborn, FCMA, CGMA, wants to make sure finance professionals are prepared for all that's coming their way. Osborn, AICPA & CIMA's global head of ESG, joined the FM podcast for a two-part discussion on the rising importance of ESG initiatives.  In part one of the interview, Osborn explained why ESG, along with related auditing and assurance opportunities, is becoming mainstream. In this part, he discusses his early interest in ESG topics, describes the current landscape of ESG...

It’s a big year for ESG initiatives, and Jeremy Osborn, FCMA, CGMA, wants to make sure finance professionals are prepared for all that’s coming their way. Osborn, AICPA & CIMA’s global head of ESG, joined the FM podcast for a discussion on the business reasons to pay attention to ESG, how he became interested in the topic about 15 years ago, and why he was excited to be part of a niche practice area that is today becoming mainstream. This is part one of a two-part interview with Osborn....

This episode of the FM podcast features two leaders in the accounting profession globally. Alicja Dworowska, ACMA, CGMA, is finance director at Thermo Fisher Scientific and also a coach and mentor. Lindsay Stevenson, CPA, CGMA, is chief transformation officer at the firm BPM LLP and chair of the AICPA Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee (WIEC). Role models for all, Dworowska and Stevenson are passionate about advancing women in the profession. That passion came through in this...

The themes of sessions at the Future of Finance Summit, which concluded earlier this month in Austin, Texas, were global in nature: talent development, transformation of the finance function, and managing amidst uncertainty. There was, however, one comment from a speaker that stood out to Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, chief executive–Management Accounting at AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. The comment was about numbers, yet as...

David Tiplady, ACMA, CGMA, head of commercial, Vodafone Automotive, is in training for an intriguing and difficult competition. He’s part of a four-man team rowing without support across the Atlantic Ocean, from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean, in 2023. He joins host Kyle Hannan to discuss the planning and training that’s underway, along with contingencies already being considered, well before the team hits the open water. He shares advice for reaching a stretch goal, concern about...

Harvard Business School professor and author Ranjay Gulati says that sentiment is growing among business leaders that companies have a larger role to play than simply providing shareholder value. He joined the FM podcast to discuss that topic and others highlighted in his recent book, Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies. Gulati explains about when he realised the expectation “that businesses have to do more” is growing dramatically and what a leader at Lego said...

Well before the COVID-19 pandemic led to a remote work revolution, Lynda Gratton was thinking about how work should be redesigned. Gratton, an author, consultant, and professor, is a world-renowned expert on organisational behaviour. She joined the FM podcast to discuss some of the thoughts in her new book, Redesigning Work: How to Transform Your Organisation and Make Hybrid Work for Everyone. Gratton also spoke about what organisations around the world are saying about the future of hybrid...