Technical skills and knowledge are usually the focus for accountants, as for many other professionals. However, at more senior levels and indeed to reach more senior levels, far more is required. 

This session will look at the importance of communication skills, the key ‘tools’ we all have to engage with others and the professional scenarios to consider. You will leave this session with practical guidance you can apply to your career and if relevant, those you manage.

What is information and digital literacy

Definitions and models – what are these competencies we are talking about?

• What is IL
• What is DL?
• CILIP definition and how this applies in different contexts
• Why everyone needs this
• Significance for those in the workplace – what this means in practice

Why is this relevant to CIMA and those in finance and accounting roles? – the challenges

• New ways of working (remote)
• New IT systems
• Greater people that people or teams work in silos without good information and knowledge management
• People will increasingly need new competencies to evaluate information critically, to establish who to trust, to continue their learning, for problem solving
• Helping people before ethically – sharing information increasingly easy online, so understanding their role in information governance issues and compliance
• Building a culture of evidenced-based decision making – so using research and evidence in their work to improve their practices.

How can you better build responsible financial leadership into your business? What does it mean? Has the COVID pandemic paused a drive towards embedding environment, society and governance goals into business models? 

CIMA President Nick Jackson is passionate about creating businesses that recognize the importance of all stakeholders. In his keynote speech, he’ll explain why, and outline the business benefits of looking beyond the quarterly balance sheet

Our Panel will discuss:

What is the key role that finance professionals can play in developing and implementing sustainable business practices?

What has been the best response (example) you’ve seen to the challenge of improving business sustainability?

Do you think that now ESG has a higher profile, public scrutiny will increase even more, and if so, what can companies do to meet that scrutiny?