However, before jumping into what's ahead, here is a reminder of what we did to help you as members and students in Africa last year:
Highlights of 2019
- CGMA Africa Conference 2019: finance transformation in the digital world
Our second CGMA Africa Conference was held in Cape Town and addressed the challenges and opportunities facing finance and business in Africa. The two-day event featured over 40 prominent speakers and panelists from leading global and national companies discussing themes such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and the financial and leadership skills that are required to take on these opportunities. Speakers included Alida Botes, partner/director PwC Strategies for Business Partnering; Gbemisola Adelowore, head of Finance West Africa SAP; and Greg Solomon CEO McDonalds South Africa – amongst many other prominent industry leaders.
- CIMA Centenary celebrations
Past CIMA president Steve Swientozielskyj, FCMA, CGMA toured Southern Africa to attend various CIMA Centenary celebrations in South Africa, Botswana and Zambia. In Botswana he met with the First Lady, Neo Masisi, ACMA, CGMA, for an engaging dialogue. In South Africa he headed roundtables with academics and employers to discuss the benefits of the CIMA qualification and the CGMA designation.
- Removal of exemption fees
A first among professional bodies in the sector, CIMA removed the exemption fees charge on 1 August 2019 to encourage more students to start their CIMA studies and support their career development.
- Updated Professional Qualification syllabus and CGMA Competency Framework the launch of the updated CIMA® Professional Qualification
The launch of the updated CIMA® Professional Qualification was held at GIBS Business School in Johannesburg. The syllabus was updated in response to the drivers of change in the finance function, such as robotics and AI amongst others. The CGMA Competency Framework was updated to reflect the changing skills members and students need by adding the Digital Skills competency.
- Launch of Future of Finance Thought Leadership and Digital Mindset free CPD pack
The future of finance research project was designed to provide insight into the changing nature of the finance function. The goal of the research was to find out how we can equip finance professionals with the skills and competencies they will need to succeed in the fourth industrial revolution. Our research findings also informed the updated CIMA Professional Qualification and CGMA Competency Framework. We also launched the Digital Mindset Pack (2019) designed to equip you with the skills you need to make informed decisions in a digital finance world.
Looking ahead
As a professional member body, our goal is to drive the profession forward in Africa. We will therefore continue to engage with key stakeholders in the community, such as employers, universities and other member bodies to promote upskilling and nurture workforce capability.
To ensure that our members and students in Africa get the maximum benefit out of their membership, we have lined up several CPD and networking events. Our events and workshops are designed to keep you abreast of the latest trends in finance and give you the opportunity to meet CIMA members and students just like yourself. Our events are also a good chance to engage with subject matter experts and industry leaders in Africa.
Some events that you can look forward to include annual graduation, where we will honour the achievements of our students and new members; the annual Emerging Leaders Competition where we recognise and nurture young talent; and various end-of-year networking functions for your enjoyment.
You can view upcoming events in your area here. Also, watch your inbox for an invitation to the next event in your area.
For members that prefer to take care of their professional development at home or in the office, we have a continually growing thought leadership library; CGMAStore packed with courses, webinars and eBooks on hot topics, plus free CPD resources – which you can find at cimaglobal.com.
Our goal in the new decade is to continue to drive a dynamic accounting profession by equipping you with the skills you need to propel your career, contribute positively to your organisations and society at large. We encourage you to take advantage of your benefits as a member or a student and join us as we lead the profession into the fourth industrial revolution.
