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 FM podcast, speaking about the importance of International Women’s Day.
Also, this link features Rowe speaking about the February edition.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The paths for members to access content in the digital editions.
- Highlights of the April edition, including focus areas of sustainability and leadership.
- The advice regular contributor Rhymer Rigby gives for delivering bad news.
- The focus of Liam Bastick’s column on using Microsoft Excel.
Play the episode below or read the edited transcript:
— To comment on this episode or to suggest an idea for another episode, contact Neil Amato at Neil.Amato@aicpa-cima.com.
Transcript
Neil Amato: Welcome back to the FM podcast. This is Neil Amato. Joining me again on the show is FM editor-in-chief Oliver Rowe. We’re going to discuss the April digital edition of the magazine. Oliver, welcome back to the podcast.
Oliver Rowe: Thank you, Neil. Good to be back on the FM podcast.
Amato: Again for listeners, FM editions are every two months and entirely digital. There are a few ways, I guess, for members to access the editions. Can you explain those pathways again, Oliver?
Rowe: Thanks, Neil, yes, of course. As you said, FM digital editions are every two months, and we’re looking at the article lineup today in the April edition. There are three ways to get to that. You can either, via the AICPA & CIMA website at aicpa-cima.com, you’ll need to log in with your AICPA-CIMA login and from the main menu, go to resources and then publications, and you’ll see Financial Management magazine.
The second way, for each edition, there’s an FM email sent to members alerting them that the edition is published. Members should have received that already. The third option, the final option, is to go to the FM website at fm-magazine.com. In the menu, go to “Digital Edition”. Once logged in, you’ll be able to read the April edition and previous editions, too.
Amato: That’s great. One of our recent guests from about a month ago on the podcast was CIMA President Sarah Ghosh. That conversation will be linked in the show notes for the episode. She’s also writing in the April edition. What is the topic for this edition’s president’s column by Sarah Ghosh?
Rowe: Neil, that’s absolutely right. Sarah is writing in the April edition. She’s writing on how businesses are increasingly taking a multicapital approach to maximising value. That’s about the six Integrated Reporting capitals: financial and manufactured, as well as intellectual, human, social and relationship, and natural.
Sarah says that for this transformation to be successful, four shifts in approach and thinking are needed by finance and management accountants. These shifts include not only developing a greater understanding of the six capitals but also a deeper engagement with the business model and a longer-term view of the business.
Amato: What are some other highlights of the April edition?
Rowe: Also in this edition, Neil, we’ve got a focus on sustainability with two features. First one: “Four Actions for CFOs to Stay Ahead on ESG”. Secondly, an interview with an ESG leader at Sri Lankan conglomerate Hayleys. Also in this edition, the April edition, we’ve got finance’s data security strategy role.
We’ve got an article on leadership: “Build Leadership Credibility by Displaying Vulnerability”. This is an interesting article. It’s about leaders showing their authentic selves and admitting their limitations and mistakes. It’s also about seeking feedback and support from others. It’s a tactic or an approach that can backfire if it’s not used in the right way, but it can be a game-changer for organisations and helpful for leaders and managers — an important topic that’s explored in some depth in the April edition.
Amato: One article that caught my eye as it seems to be a relatable topic really for anyone: “How to Deliver Bad News”. What is some of the advice you can share from that article?
Rowe: That’s absolutely right, delivering bad news. It’s one type of difficult conversation that sometimes is necessary to have with an employee or employees. This article by regular writer Rhymer Rigby looks at how to deliver bad news to an individual or team. He talks about how preparation is key.
You first assess the type of bad news, talk to HR and other stakeholders, and then rehearse your announcements and responses to likely questions. Rhymer also talks about how to handle bad reactions to the bad news and a list of pitfalls to avoid.
Amato: Also Liam Bastick is writing again about Excel. His articles over the years have proven to be useful and popular for readers. What is Liam Bastick’s topic in this edition?
Rowe: You’re absolutely right. Liam Bastick is also in this edition. He’s written “6 Ways to Create Scalable Financial Models in Excel”. This is particularly useful. It’s a way a new line of business, a new product, or even a new entity can be added to the model with minimal adjustments.
Liam describes six ways to achieve scalability. These include using dynamic arrays, the INDIRECT function, tables. He talks about reusing components such as formulas, blocks of formulas, and tables. He talks about Power Query and Power Pivot, and then in summary, he describes all these and how they can be used. Then he says a combination of approaches is what’s usually needed.
Amato: That’s good. This has been a really good, concise but also detail-filled rundown. Any closing thoughts related to the April edition, Oliver?
Rowe: Just a couple of things to say. The April edition is available now, so do have a look. Finally, just to say feedback on the edition is always welcome, and that should be sent to fm-magazine@aicpa-cima.com.
Amato: Oliver, thank you for this. The next digital edition of FM, after this current April one comes out [is] in June. We will look forward to talking to you then.
Rowe: Thanks, Neil. Thanks very much.
