Since taking on my role as CIMA president and chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, I have been reflecting on what being an inspiring leader in the profession means.
Leaders, to a certain degree, all do the same thing. Whether you are a company executive, sports coach, or schoolteacher, we lead by empowering other people to achieve things they couldn’t necessarily do on their own. For me, true leadership goes beyond job titles or organisational structures; occupying a leadership position is not the same thing as leading. To lead, we must be able to positively impact, influence, and inspire others and foster a sense of unity, belonging, and purpose to achieve shared goals — great leadership is a mindset and way of being.
Leading into the future
Today the business world is transforming at speed, driven by the pressure to grow and innovate while operating more efficiently. This transformation is being accelerated by technological advances, the transitions to more sustainable economies, and evolving societal expectations. As organisations adapt their business models, they are challenging their finance teams to lead and create value by solving complex problems and embracing financial and nonfinancial data to make better decisions.
At the start of my presidential year, I set a clear objective: to accelerate the evolution of our profession and lead it into the future, supporting our global community of nearly 600,000 accounting and finance professionals to make the most of new, emerging opportunities.
Our profession is nothing without its people. And if we are to take advantage of the new opportunities presented to us, we must put people front and centre.
A path to opportunity
I know from experience that the CGMA Professional Qualification opens the door to a world of opportunity. Personally, it has given me the key to an exciting career in leading organisations towards sustainable success and making a meaningful impact on people around me.
It is more than just a technical qualification, as important as that is. The promise of our Professional Qualification — throughout its history — is that it offers a path to people with aptitude and dedication to build a better life for themselves, irrespective of who they are or where they come from. Having met many CIMA members and CGMA candidates over the past ten months, I know that this view is widely shared within our community.
I find this uplifting. As part of my presidency, I want to make sure more people are aware of this opportunity. We know that the next generation places a high value on building careers with purpose and integrity; and we need to inspire them by showing that they can achieve exactly that by joining our great profession.
As well as attracting the next generation, I am not forgetting all the dedicated professionals who are already diligently working within it. I am cognisant of how change already has and will continue to affect our members. We remain committed to supporting you as you navigate a rapidly changing environment, helping you upskill and reskill to seize new opportunities, and ensuring that you remain as a trusted adviser to others throughout your career.
As CIMA president and chair of the Association, I am dedicated to ensuring that our global community of accounting and finance professionals shows leadership and remains at the forefront of innovation and excellence. Together, we will build a future where every professional can achieve their full potential and contribute meaningfully to their organisations, ensuring that we are not just participants but leaders in creating value and driving innovation.
Simon Bittlestone, FCMA, CGMA, is CIMA president and chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.