There is a problem with professional education, and the current ‘operating system’ needs an upgrade, says Stephen Flatman, VP Education and Professional Qualifications – CIMA.
In an exclusive interview about the CGMA upgrade, Flatman told PQ that many accountancy bodies’ offerings have hardly evolved for the past 25 years, and that can’t continue.
He stressed that traditional jobs are being hollowed out, and entry level roles now need accounting and finance people who have powerful problem-solving skills and have critical thinking.
CIMA believes some ‘traditional’ roles, such as book-keeping, are ripe for automation, but there will be strong growth in other roles, particularly in finance teams.
This, stressed Flatman, is where the CGMA upgrade comes in, putting critical thinking skills to the fore, developing these skills right at the start of the qualification rather than waiting until year three or four.
CIMA is preparing for roles in finance teams that focus on value creation, with PQs who understand the importance of business partnering, and have key strategic and analytical skills. This is where the growth in jobs will be in the future.
Check out more about the CGMA upgrade on page 22.
