Policy & Insights

Finance functions are increasingly being required to support strategic decision making through data-driven insights. In the first of this three-part conversation, report authors Clive Webb, Senior Insights Manager ACCA Professional Insights, Brian Furness, PwC Partner and Global Head of Finance Consulting and Jamie Lyon, Portfolio Lead at ACCA Professional Insights, discuss why insights matter and how finance functions need to think broader than their traditional measures when evaluating performance and supporting decision making.Read the 'Finance insights reimagined' report

In the first of a four-part series on Meaningful work for the digital professional, which is based on our joint report of the same title with Ernst & Young (EY), Head of Business Insights in Professional Insights, Narayanan Vaidyanathan introduces the start of an engaging discussion with four panellists about what meaningful work means to each of them. The series will explore: Part 2 - the state of play on digital adoption (the journey to digital adoption, risks, challenges, opportunities and rewards), Part 3 - how to think about building digital skills and Part 4 - the impact of Covid-19 on the digital agenda. Panellists include ACCA Chief Executive Helen Brand, Prime Global CEO Stephen Heathcoate, and three leaders from EY: EMEA Public Policy Leader, Andrew Hobbs; Canada Assurance Digital & Innovation Leader, Daniela Carcasole and Global Assurance, Audit methodology and Analytics leader Alan Young.Read the 'Meaningful work for the digital profession' report

Why is it especially important to ensure that we grow our skills and continuously learn? What approaches can we adopt to ensure that we are successful? How do we remain relevant? Dr Nigel Spencer of Oxford Said Business School, Keith Jones, Executive Partner at Alchemy Worldwide and Senior Insights Manager ACCA Professional Insights, Clive Webb explore the importance of learning in turbulent times.

In this podcast, Neil MacLean, patner at EY, explores the nature of digital transformation and how it impacts the finance function. He explores the impacts of technology and the implications for skills for the accountancy and finance professional and how these need to evolve. In a survey with over 4,200 ACCA members, affiliates and students we reviewed the digital skills that a professional needs to be relevant, as expressed by ACCA’s digital quotient; one seven quotients that define the skills needed. In the report, "The Digital Accountant – digital skills in a transformed world," we explore the results and provide guidance on growing the necessary skills and knowledge.

In this podcast, Stephen Dowling, Founder and CEO of ETM considers why the accountancy and finance professional needs to develop their digital skills and the steps that they need to take to ensure that they remain relevant. He considers the importance of learning and unlearning in this context. Digital transformation is one of the key conversations around businesses at present. The evolution of the business model has an impact on us as accountancy and finance professionals from the way that we collect, verify and utilise increasing volumes of data. In a survey with over 4,200 ACCA members, affiliates and students we reviewed the digital skills that a professional needs to be relevant, as expressed by ACCA’s digital quotient; one seven quotients that define the skills needed. In the report "The Digital Accountant – digital skills in a transformed world," we explore the results and provide guidance on growing the necessary skills and knowledge.

In this podcast, Brendan Sheehan, ACCA council member and CEO of digital transformation company White Squires, explores the nature of digital transformation and how it impacts the accountancy and finance professional. He considers the role that they need to play and why it is relevant. He specifically considers the implications for the finance leaders (as discussed in the companion report, "Digital Leadership: Leading finance digital transformation"). Digital transformation is one of the key conversations around businesses at present. The evolution of the business model has an impact on us as accountancy and finance professionals from the way that we collect, verify and utilise increasing volumes of data. In a survey with over 4,200 ACCA members, affiliates and students we reviewed the digital skills that a professional needs to be relevant, as expressed by ACCA’s digital quotient; one seven quotients that define the skills needed. In the report, "The Digital Accountant – digital skills in a transformed world," we explore the results and provide guidance on growing the necessary skills and knowledge.

In October 2019 Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and ACCA published an article Creating effective learning ‘eco-systems’ for the future world of professional services. This podcast is a discussion between the two report authors: senior insights manager for ACCA, Clive Webb, and leadership development specialist and adviser on talent development based at the business school, Nigel Spencer.

Finance functions are facing a number of potentially disruptive challenges led by technological innovations, changing business models and evolving consumer expectations. Based on a series of interactive workshops and interviews with leading finance professionals around the world, as well as through an online survey of over a 1,000 ACCA members and PwC contacts, we have set out in a new report what we consider to be a possible vision for the future finance organisation, and what we think the journey to get there is. Part 2: The journey to the future In this podcast, PwC specialists Colin Bezant, Fedelma Good and Helen Tuddenham share their insights for finance teams to successfully embark on a journey of change. Amongst those, encouraging people-led solutions, understanding the entire data lifecycle built around a strong digital core, and offering training to finance teams outside of traditional channels, all appear key concepts to focus on in order to deliver effective transformation.

On 18th July we launched the Global Economic Conditions Survey: Q2, 2019 (GECS) for the second quarter of 2019. GECS, carried out jointly by ACCA and IMA (the Institute of Management Accountants), is the largest regular economic survey of accountants around the world. This podcast features Michael Taylor, chief economist at ACCA, discussing the global economy and looking at the current picture and the potential risks.

Finance functions are facing a number of potentially disruptive challenges led by technological innovations, changing business models and evolving consumer expectations. Based on a series of interactive workshops and interviews with leading finance professionals around the world, as well as through an online survey of over a 1,000 ACCA members and PwC contacts, we have set out in a new report what we consider to be a possible vision for the future finance organisation, and what we think the journey to get there is. Part one: The opportunity for the finance community The first podcast features ACCA’s director of Professional Insights Jamie Lyon and PwC Partner and Global Head of Finance Consulting in London, Brian Furness, the two sponsors of this joint research initiative. Together they discuss key insights from the report and top tips for finance leaders embarking on a journey of change.