Institute news

CIMA president: 'Management accountants must adapt — quickly'

In February, CIMA President Amal Ratnayake, FCMA, CGMA, spoke at a series of UK events. He welcomed new members at an event at Drapers' Hall in London, and in Birmingham he met members at a "Future of Accounting" event.

At the president's lunch in Leeds, Ratnayake spoke about how technical innovation is transforming management accounting. He told the audience of members, high-achieving students, recruiters, and CIMA volunteers that technology is influencing all levels of finance. "To remain relevant in their roles, management accountants must adapt — quickly. That means embracing the new skills we need to deliver on ... new services areas and technologies."

He emphasised the need to develop skills of creativity, influence, innovation, leadership, and problem-solving. "We must match technological intelligence with human intelligence to capitalise on all the digital age has to offer," he said.

Also in February, Ratnayake introduced the Money Talks events in Bucharest in Romania, and Warsaw and Krakow in Poland. Rebecca McCaffry, FCMA, CGMA, associate technical director—Management Accounting at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, presented on the joint Association-KPMG International report Finance Transformation: The Human Perspective, which led to a panel discussion.

2020 elections to CIMA Council

Newly elected members

The following members have been elected for their first term as Members of Council, to serve from the close of the Annual General Meeting on 3 June 2020 until the close of the Annual General Meeting in 2023:

• Louise O'Brien — Central London and North Thames constituency (EC1)
• Jonathan Nicholls — South West England and South Wales (EC2)
• Jaco Moolman — East, West Central and South Africa (EC10)
• Brien Hueppauff — South East England constituency (EC12)

Re-elected members

The following members have been re-elected to serve for another term on Council from the close of the Annual General Meeting on 3 June 2020 until the close of the Annual General Meeting in 2023:

• Hasmukh Mistry — West Midlands constituency (EC4)
• Janet Brown — North East England constituency (EC5)
• Stephen Milne — Scotland constituency (EC7)

Association to cooperate with Polish Chamber of Statutory Auditors 

In February, the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants signed a cooperation agreement with the Polish Chamber of Statutory Auditors (PIBR) to support the audit profession.

It would allow PIBR members to obtain CPA and CIMA qualifications and Association members to have access to the PIBR. The agreement would also give access to the Association's Auditing in the Future project resources focused on new technologies. There would be cooperation on CPD and events for members of both organisations.

Jakub Bejnarowicz, the Association's regional director, Europe, said the cooperation agreement is "a milestone in the development of our business in Europe". He added: "[It is] also an extremely important event from the perspective of the future of finance, and above all audit in Poland."

CIMA students move to remote testing 

For the first time, CIMA students can now take their exams remotely. The coronavirus pandemic forced many test centres to close, preventing the delivery of CIMA Objective Tests and Case Study exams to students around the world.

The format of the exams has not changed, and established testing software is being used to deliver them. Students now have the choice to be tested remotely, except in China and Russia, or to go to a test centre where open.

Stephen Flatman, vice-president of examinations—Management Accounting at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, said test centres had been closed around the world "to ensure everyone's safety and wellbeing". He added: "CIMA students [can now] take their Objective Tests and Case Study exams from their homes and with minimal disruption."

Coronavirus hub provides support for members

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants has been monitoring the impact of the coronavirus on members, students, staff, and the profession. It set up a coronavirus hub, available at cimaglobal.com, which brings together content and support for CIMA members on both technical and wellbeing topics.

Obituary notice

We express our condolences to the family of Philip Arthur Hewitt, FCMA, CGMA, FCA, who died in March. Hewitt was CIMA president in 1992—93 and received the Institute's medal in 1996.