CIMA president, Steven Swientozielskyj, to attend 100-year birthday celebrations in Africa

Research earlier this year determined that 90% of finance teams do not currently have the skills to support digital transformation and the business’s ability to grow.

The President of CIMA, Steven Swientozielskyj (small)

Paving the way to the official birthday celebration, CIMA launched the ‘Future of Finance’ initiative and released its white paper re-inventing finance for a digital world to lead the profession forward. The research findings have informed the updated CGMA Competency Framework, the new 2019 CIMA Professional Qualification Syllabus and a Digital Mindset Pack that will give finance professionals the resources they need to thrive in the digital age.

This March, CIMA Africa will host a number of centenary celebrations in South Africa and Zambia, all of which will be attended by CIMA President Swientozielskyj, FCMA, CGMA.

"Building on 100 years of heritage and our future of finance research, we are in an excellent position to support our members and students in Africa to go beyond in a rapidly changing digital future," said CIMA Africa Acting Regional Vice President, Dr Sara Bux. "Finance professionals who adapt quickly to these changes will remain knowledgeable and employable, capable of contributing to value creation and preservation in their organisations.

"In South Africa, we continue to expand our reach in the region by partnering with various tertiary education institutions to ensure that we equip as many graduates as possible with the skills they need to thrive in the digital age."

CIMA’s success is about evolution, embracing change and remaining relevant. The Future of Finance research is geared towards transforming communities, economies and organisations.

Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, Chief Executive – Management Accounting

Over the last decade, businesses have undergone dramatic change. Technology is disrupting not only the products they offer, but also the way they earn profit, moving from the manufacturing of tangible goods to service-based business models and knowledge-related activities sold via licenses and subscriptions.

Fueled by these changes, CIMA’s focus, one hundred years on, is to work with employers, firms and educators to meet the demands of the evolving shape of the finance function.

Swientozielskyj, said: “It is a privilege to be CIMA’s President during this special year – a year when we respect our great heritage and embrace our future. We can reflect at how we have led change over the past 100 years, retained our core values and been purpose driven. We can also feel proud that we have established a global management accounting profession that is fit for the future of finance. I want to thank the members and students who have made CIMA what is today.”

CIMA’s ongoing centenary activities can found on its dedicated centennial website:
https://www.cimaglobal.com/CIMA100/

Follow the story through the year at #CIMA100.

About the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), founded in 1919, is the world’s leading and largest professional body of management accountants, with 237,000 members and students operating in 184 countries, working at the heart of business. CIMA members and students work in industry, commerce, and the public sector and not-for-profit organisations. CIMA works closely with employers and sponsors leading-edge research, constantly updating its qualification, professional experience requirements and continuing professional development to ensure it remains the employers’ choice when recruiting financially-trained business leaders.