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THE VIEW FROM THE PRESIDENT

PAUL ASH, FCMA, CGMA

t the beginning of my your team as much autonomy
presidential year, I chose as possible.
A“Dare Together” as my • Bond your team. Team
theme. bonding is essential for
As we face up to new global morale, culture building, and
uncertainty with Russia’s military effective collaboration.
invasion of Ukraine, I believe that Reminding your team why
theme is even more relevant. To their work is valuable has
rebuild our world after the always been important. In the
continuing shocks to our remote environment, more so.
economic systems and meet the Through this and recent crises,
challenges of living with AICPA & CIMA’s combined forces
COVID-19, we have to travel are here to support the profession
forward collectively and be bold. — including through our learning
As finance professionals, we resources, conferences, guidance,
drive effective business and advocacy work.
management in any economic Together, in recent months, we
climate, but it is in challenging have achieved much. We have:
times such as these that our • Supported long-term
expertise and skills come to the sustainable economic recovery
fore. In the past two years, you in the UK through meetings
became the “value partner” your between key stakeholders and
organisations desperately needed. Achieving through CIMA representatives.
You truly delivered on the • Accelerated economic recovery
purpose of our profession — to by advocating on behalf of
drive prosperity and opportunity ‘Daring Together’ small- and medium-size
for those who count on us. entities, skills building, and
What we have learned in the professionalism in Hong
past two years is that the future ‘In the past two years, you Kong, South Africa, and Poland
belongs to those who work with, and other countries.
not against, each other and, in the became the “value partner” • Rolled out to additional
process, learn from one another. your organisations countries the CGMA Finance
That is what I mean by daring Leadership Program, our 100%
together. desperately needed.’ online pathway to the CGMA
The Association’s response to designation.
the Ukraine war has been thoughtful and strong. • Launched a series of data analytics courses,
And this crisis — like that of 2020 and 2021 — including Data Analytics Core Concepts Certificate,
demands us on a personal level to be both bold in our Data Analytics Foundations Certificate, and
actions and empathetic. Introduction to Data Analytics for Accounting
Finance teams that rode the waves of pandemic Professionals, which is hosted on the Coursera
uncertainty now face new anxiety and uncertainty. platform.
Not least those working in the region most affected by • Committed, as part of the Prince of Wales’s
the war. Accounting for Sustainability project’s Accounting
For leaders operating across all parts of the world, Bodies Network, to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas
now is the time to improve communication with emissions as soon as operationally possible.
teams and continue building genuine personal There is plenty more to come, including the
connections with staff to keep them engaged and combined CIMA Annual General Meeting, the AICPA
productive. & CIMA ENGAGE Europe 2022 conference, and the
Here are three areas where leaders can make a real AICPA & CIMA Finance Awards in Birmingham in the
difference by using their nontechnical skills. UK in June 2022. This will be our first large UK
• Practise listening. Listening is one of the most in-person event since 2020. My address there will PHOTO BY FIONA HANSON/AP IMAGES
effective ways of showing empathy to members of KEEP IN TOUCH focus on the profession’s important role in the
your team. Follow me adoption and evolution of environmental, social,

• Trust your team. Rather than the corrosive effects on Twitter: and governance (ESG) issues in business.
of micromanagement on business culture, give @CIMA_President I look forward to seeing you there.
FM-MAGAZINE.COM April 2022 I FM MAGAZINE I 5