Change consultant and executive coach Nicola Hopes shares several tips and tricks for crafting intentional business projects that can facilitate meaningful changes for organisations. 

Hopes explains the fundamental questions that help ensure projects achieve intended outcomes, the importance of knowing what good looks like throughout the process, and how leaders can better balance project demands alongside their day-to-day responsibilities. 

"I've seen lots of organisations passionate about doing a great project," Hopes said. "And, at the end of it, what's delivered doesn't quite solve the problem they were trying to solve, or it doesn't quite realise the opportunity, because they just weren't clear enough about what good looks like. Unless you've painted that picture really clearly, you don't know how to navigate the problems as you go through."

Resource: Nicola Hopes' UK & Ireland ENGAGE slides.

What you'll learn from this episode:

• Crucial areas to understand before taking on a business project.
• How to improve your approach when pitching initiatives to stakeholders.
• Digital tools that can help organise key information.
• Strategies for improving interpersonal skills.
• How leaders can help stakeholders find common ground during disagreements.
• Three ways leaders can save time and resources on projects.

In celebration of CGMA Week, the FM podcast welcomed two CGMA designation holders who recently spoke at UK & Ireland ENGAGE to discuss the lessons they've learned throughout their careers, how their mindset has shifted over the years, and the advice they would give to finance professionals navigating opportunities in a challenging era defined by potential and uncertainty. 

Simon Ritchie, ACMA, CGMA, founder and CEO of Blox Software, and Olcay Yilmaz, FCMA, CGMA, finance director–Rail Infrastructure at Siemens, explain the importance of continuous learning in a time when knowledge has a faster expiration date for finance professionals. 

Ritchie and Yilmaz highlight the ways finance professionals can position emerging technologies as innovation drivers in the finance function and how to fully embrace those tools in their roles.

CGMA Week is a global celebration designed to showcase the value, pride, and achievements associated with the CGMA designation.

What you'll learn from this episode:

• How an early start in technology can prevent finance professionals from working "backwards".
• The importance of learning to love learning — and why it pays off.
• Key areas Yilmaz and Ritchie expect AI to optimise within the finance function.
• Strategies for harnessing structure and embracing change through uncertainty.
• Their advice for professionals preoccupied with career ladders and titles.
• Tips for professionals struggling to map their learning and growth journeys.

Ben Schwencke, chief psychologist at Test Partnership, a psychometric assessment and pre-employment testing service provider in the UK, joined the FM podcast to discuss common recruitment challenges facing employers, what psychometric testing entails and how it's implemented, and the use of artificial intelligence in recruitment practices.

In an earlier FM episode, an expert discussed how businesses are eager to embark on AI initiatives despite remaining wary of its pitfalls.

What you'll learn from this episode:

• Why an assessment of recruitment challenges in a business depends on who you talk to in the organisation.
  An explanation of psychometric testing and common concerns companies may have in using such testing.
• Why Schwencke considers it beneficial for job candidates to be allowed to take a practice test version of a psychometric assessment.
• The "two sides" to the use of AI in the recruitment process.
• Why recruitment methods should include tools that both incorporate AI and are resistant to it, according to Schwencke.

CIMA President Amal Ratnayake, FCMA, CGMA, who is also CFO of the Official Community Corporation in Canada, and Sherin Cader, CFO of the financial services industry group and executive vice-president at John Keells Holdings Plc in Sri Lanka, discuss the skills and experience needed to become a trusted and effective CFO. What you'll learn from this episode: - How the scope of the CFO's role has expanded. - What CFOs are doing to lead businesses through the coronavirus crisis. - Why CFOs need to communicate regularly with remote teams. - The importance of being an ethical leader to build loyalty and productivity. - The value of gaining experience in multiple businesses.

Tim Burghout, ACMA, CGMA, the head of finance and accounting for Metro China, a wholesale cash and carry, tells about how he built a playbook as changes due to the novel coronavirus progressed, why it's important to take time thinking through decisions, and why we see empty shelves in supermarkets. What you'll learn from this episode: - Burghout's road map the past three months. - If he could go back in time, what resource he wishes he had. - Empty supermarket shelves — fact or fiction? - How consumer behaviours have changed and what trends will stay after the coronavirus pandemic.

Numerous in-person professional events have been shifted to online only, delayed by months, or cancelled in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. That doesn't mean that we can't strengthen connections with those we know or make new business contacts, according to Todd Cohen, a consultant, speaker, and author. What you'll learn from this episode: - Tips for how to display presence on a video call. - Why presence "is the most powerful selling tool we have". - The value of continuing to build connections despite a lack of in-person interaction. - The importance of specific questions in online meetings.

Ankur Agrawal, McKinsey partner and co-author of "The CFO's Role in Helping Companies Navigate the Coronavirus Crisis", offers tips and insights on how CFOs can most successfully steer their organisations through the crisis.

When one country after another took measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus, BrewDog faced a 70% drop in revenue because customers could no longer visit its 102 bars worldwide. The Scottish brewer, distiller, and bar operator decided to switch from producing gin, vodka, and rum to making hand sanitiser. Ben Press, ACMA, CGMA, BrewDog's retail finance manager, explains how the international company managed to change production quickly and how it plans to survive the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

CIMA President Amal Ratnayake, FCMA, CGMA, and Alfred Ramosedi, FCMA, CGMA, the CEO of Bayport Financial Services in South Africa, discuss the traits of effective leaders and how they can get "buy-in" from employees to drive change.

Chris Clearfield, author of Meltdown: Why Our Systems Fail and What We Can Do About It, talks to FM magazine senior editor Drew Adamek about how the coronavirus pandemic is exposing complexity in global supply chains, trade, and economies. Clearfield offers advice on how finance professionals can improve their strategic decision-making in the face of this complexity.

Byron Patrick, CPA/CITP, CGMA, knows what he is talking about when it comes to technology — he co-authored FM's popular 2019 article "100 Quick Technology Tips", which included ways to save time when using email. In this podcast episode, he shares more advice on how to use email effectively: what to do, what not to do, and why you should think twice before sending email.

Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, companies in Asia have been dealing with supply chain disruptions and have implemented large-scale work-from-home policies to keep the business going. What can companies in other parts of the world learn from their experience? Guru Balasubramaniam, ACMA, CGMA, acting managing director of Rentokil Initial Hong Kong, and Arthur Yu, FCMA, CGMA, China CFO of Jaguar Land Rover, share what their teams have been doing to stabilise the business.

Organisations that have agility built into their budgets are better equipped to pivot when needed, as when major events such as the spread of the coronavirus occur. They also will be more prepared for the next crisis, according to Steve Player, CPA, CGMA, the owner of consulting firm The Player Group. "This won't be the last pandemic we face," Player said.

Stephen Flatman, vice-president–Education & Professional Qualifications at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, explains how the CGMA Professional Qualification (CGMA PQ) upgrade is designed to respond to the change of "shape" in the finance function and how those changes will propel businesses and expand opportunities for finance professionals.

Flatman discusses disruptions to role requirements and career development opportunities in a competitive job market and the skills and competencies required for finance professionals to drive organisations forward and future-proof their careers.

"I genuinely think we engineered the way we think about education, and that will transform the skills and competency acquisition of candidates going through the programme," Flatman said. "We think that there's real growth in the strategic and analytical roles that we're preparing people for."

What you'll learn from this episode:

§  External factors driving talent development challenges for employers.

§  Some ways the CGMA PQ is changing to meet the growing requirements of the finance function.

§  What an evolving finance function means for students and members.

§  How a business-partnering focus aims to expand future finance professionals' skillsets.

§  Essential skills to empower professionals across various roles and industries.

Organisations can't simply wait and hope for the best when it comes to coronavirus response. Disaster planning expert Jennifer H. Elder, CPA/CFF, CGMA, shares advice in this episode.

Strong risk management practices can't stop the spread of the coronavirus, but strong planning and the ability to adapt can help mitigate its consequences. For lessons on the short- and long-term steps organisations should take in bracing for the full effects of the global outbreak of the coronavirus, hear advice from Mark Beasley, CPA, a professor at North Carolina State University and the director of the university's Enterprise Risk Management Initiative.

Associate professor at Australia's Monash Business School and chartered accountant Nick McGuigan, Ph.D., describes ways management accountants can develop integrated thinking — including through "social bubble hopping".

Kris Curry, an EY principal in forensic and integrity services, talks about tools, frameworks, and practices companies have at their disposal to help employees, contractors, and vendors conduct themselves with integrity even in challenging markets.

Dan Crumb, CPA, CGMA, has been CFO of the Kansas City Chiefs for ten seasons, the last of which was the most exciting — the Chiefs won the US National Football League's Super Bowl championship game earlier this month. Crumb shares insights on taking a simplified approach to innovation, the value of thinking like an owner, and the thrill of hearing a stadium full of loyal, loud fans.

The big ideas that lead to innovative business changes may seem to happen outside traditional structures, but it's important for organisations to be strategic when it comes to setting the stage for innovation to occur. Accounting tech expert Donny Shimamoto, CPA/CITP, CGMA, offers up the key components that entities should consider to stay ahead of the innovation curve.

Chartered accountant Androulla Soteri, global head of tax at Baker Tilly International, offers a progress report on the UK's Making Tax Digital programme and other countries' digital filing and collection of tax.

AMI Partners, an independent research firm, connected with financial decision-makers in over 500 SMBs across six countries (Australia, Canada, France, Japan, UK, and US) to better understand the "before and after" experiences of implementing automated travel and expense solutions. In this branded podcast, Nikki Hollis, regional sales director at SAP Concur, delves into the UK research findings. (Sponsored by SAP Concur)

Risk management functions that operate in lockstep with a company's digital transformation efforts tend to perform better. But how do they get there? Brian Schwartz, a PwC partner, shares the traits of digitally fit risk functions and the characteristics that separate dynamic risk functions from peers.

Thivanka Rangala, FCMA, CGMA, is the CFO at edotco Group, a telecommunications tower company that is building network infrastructure for 5G technology in Asia. He shares insights on preparing for 5G roll-out and advises finance professionals to stay ahead of the curve.

This episode features Oliver Rowe, FM's editor-in-chief, detailing the contents of the magazine's June digital edition.

The discussion begins with a focus on the CGMA Professional Qualification's May update. Rowe also details the key points of an article about accountability and discusses the magazine's regular columns and features.

The episode closes with an explanation of how members can access the June digital edition as well as the issue library.

Previous 2025 episodes about the digital editions:

n  February

n  April

What you'll learn from this episode:

·         Highlights of an article about the CGMA Professional Qualification update.

·         Advice in an article about dealing with the growing threat of deepfake fraud.

·         A summary of the president's column by Simon Bittlestone, FCMA, CGMA.

·         Details of one article's focus on the social-return-on-investment framework.

·         An explanation of vertical and horizontal accountability and their relationship to the finance function.

In part two of this conversation with Emily Wilson, vice-president of research at Terbium Labs, we return to our conversation about how the dark web amplifies fraud risk for finance departments. In this episode, we explore what to do if you discover your data on the dark web, how to mitigate the damage of a data breach, and what the future of the dark web holds for finance departments.

Risk expert Emily Wilson explains the risk that the dark web poses for finance departments, why management accountants should be concerned about the 'fraud economy', and how to identify data breaches.

When Australia's cotton farmers faced a pest problem that could have wiped out the industry, they collaborated. An accounting researcher shares how that was done and how management accountants can help organisations collaborate.

Motivation expert, author, and speaker Sophie Bennett describes the ways leadership skills need to change in today's technology-enabled workplace.

As businesses risk being leapfrogged by better competitors, how can they manage costs to invest in new technologies? Omar Aguilar, a partner at Deloitte, shares findings of the 2019 Global Cost Survey and the role of finance teams in enabling transformation.

CIMA president and Association board chair Amal Ratnayake, FCMA, CGMA, describes his global career journey and his ambitions for the Institute during a pivotal year in its 100-year-long history.

IASB chairman Hans Hoogervorst discusses the growth of sustainability and climate-related reporting.

Matt Kelly, editor of Radical Compliance, talks to FM senior editor Drew Adamek about the cybersecurity risk that third-party vendors pose, how finance departments can start managing and mitigating that risk, and the mindset shift that finance departments need to make when thinking about protecting data.

Tone at the top is important but not enough to build and sustain an ethical corporate culture in a global organisation. Liban Jama, a partner in EY's forensic and integrity services, explains how to drive ethical behaviour.

Ensuring company spend is compliant is a crucial role of the finance team. But how can you be confident you are getting a true view into all spend — whether that occurs as employee expenses or as invoices — while at the same time guaranteeing compliance with the UK's HMRC rules? (Sponsored by SAP Concur)

This episode of the FM podcast is the continuation of an occasional series on the show called Beyond the Code.

That means taking a detailed look at part of the CIMA Code of Ethics.

Xose Lumor, manager–Advocacy and Professional Ethics, discusses details with Monique Samuel, associate manager–Professional Conduct, on how members can properly handle official complaints and what they should know about the process if a complaint moves forward.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

n  A downloadable ethics checklist.

n  CIMA Member in Practice Rules.

n  A summary page on CIMA's approach to potential sanctions.

What you'll learn from this episode:

·         An introduction of the topic and a refresher on the Beyond the Code series.

·         Why members in practice should maintain communication with a client that has raised an official complaint.

·         An explanation of resources, including an ethics checklist that can help members deal with ethical dilemmas.

·         Samuel's summary of the process after an ethics complaint is referred to the Disciplinary Committee.

·         A reminder that such complaints are rare.

Nigel Franklyn, CPA, CGMA, a finance leader at Prudential, shares insight on "living our best life", how small changes can make a difference in performance, and why lunch matters.

Employees thrive when managers show they care. In this episode, learn the value of engaged management and how managers can improve employees' health as well as their work performance.

Hear how Mike Driver, FCMA, CGMA, the UK government's finance head and Ministry of Justice CFO, aims to put finance at the heart of decision-making.

It's not only in spelling that English differences emerge. Listen to UK and US language aficionados discuss some of the peculiarities.

Succession planning can strengthen organisations for the future, but focusing on the C-suite is a mistake, according to Shaara Roman, a consultant with wide-ranging global experience.

The CEO of a vineyard and winery speaks on getting up early, why she never watches TV in hotel rooms, and how tech is advancing winemaking.

To recruit and retain leadership talent that creates value, you need to know who your best people are. That's not necessarily obvious, because your most valuable employees might not be the ones who get paid the most.

CIMA had small beginnings. Learn in this episode with CIMA historian Martin Farrar how it has grown over 100 years into the organisation we see today.

Hear Sandy Cockrell, CPA, managing partner of Deloitte's CFO programme, share how CFOs can manage through the era of digital transformation.

Leadership expert, author, and academic Graeme Findlay describes the voices of leadership and how leaders should use them in order to be successful.

Bayport Financial Services' CEO Alfred Ramosedi, FCMA, CGMA, explains why having employees return to the office is not enough to improve productivity and why leaders should transparently explain expectations of workers. 

Ramosedi details the benefits for organisations that are intentional about bringing employees back to the office, where morale could be affected by return-to-office policies, and what three things senior leaders can do to drive productivity across all work models and environments. 

What you'll learn from this episode:

§  Four reasons companies are asking employees to return to the office.

§  Why leaders need to understand and communicate how they intend to measure productivity.

§  Three possible advantages for companies' bringing employees back to the office.

§  Morale concerns that could arise from return-to-office policies.

§  The importance of rewarding employees with flexible working arrangements.

§  Three things leaders can consider to drive productivity across all work models.

CFOs are quickly becoming more central within the corporate structure but have a lot of work to do as their roles expand and technology transforms the role.

In part two of a conversation with management coach Mary Legakis Engel, learn about how strong leaders are often adept at listening.

What makes a leader "legendary"? Management coach Mary Legakis Engel has a few thoughts and an explanation of leadership types in this podcast.