Financial Management (FM) magazine

Jamie Gruman, Ph.D., professor of organisational behaviour at the University of Guelph in Canada, discusses some of the ways technology is distancing us from other people and how this can harm employees. 

Gruman explains why this era of urgency and efficiency, aided by technological advancements, threatens to further dehumanise and objectify workforces and describes ways this is happening in businesses. 

He talks about the research he and Alan Saks, Ph.D., professor of organisational behaviour and human resources management at the University of Toronto Scarborough), have done. That research concludes that work cultures focused on care are necessary for good management and satisfied employees. Gruman also highlights one commonly held “naive belief” preventing the development of more compassionate practices in the workplace. 

What you’ll learn from this episode:

§  Different ways technology can dehumanise and objectify employees at work.

§  Why creating a caring work environment should be simple.

§  One shared falsehood that stops organisations from implementing caring cultures.

§  The role of leadership in demonstrating and rewarding care.

§  The interplay between work culture and employees’ relationship with technology.

§  How employees are resisting algorithms that threaten their autonomy.

Ben Schwencke, chief psychologist at Test Partnership, a psychometric assessment and pre-employment testing service provider in the UK, joined the FM podcast to discuss common recruitment challenges facing employers, what psychometric testing entails and how it's implemented, and the use of artificial intelligence in recruitment practices.

In an earlier FM episode, an expert discussed how businesses are eager to embark on AI initiatives despite remaining wary of its pitfalls.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• Why an assessment of recruitment challenges in a business depends on who you talk to in the organisation.
  An explanation of psychometric testing and common concerns companies may have in using such testing.
• Why Schwencke considers it beneficial for job candidates to be allowed to take a practice test version of a psychometric assessment.
• The “two sides” to the use of AI in the recruitment process.
• Why recruitment methods should include tools that both incorporate AI and are resistant to it, according to Schwencke.

Stephen Flatman, vice-president–Education & Professional Qualifications at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, explains how the CGMA Professional Qualification (CGMA PQ) upgrade is designed to respond to the change of “shape” in the finance function and how those changes will propel businesses and expand opportunities for finance professionals.

Flatman discusses disruptions to role requirements and career development opportunities in a competitive job market and the skills and competencies required for finance professionals to drive organisations forward and future-proof their careers.

“I genuinely think we engineered the way we think about education, and that will transform the skills and competency acquisition of candidates going through the programme,” Flatman said. “We think that there's real growth in the strategic and analytical roles that we're preparing people for.”

What you’ll learn from this episode:

§  External factors driving talent development challenges for employers.

§  Some ways the CGMA PQ is changing to meet the growing requirements of the finance function.

§  What an evolving finance function means for students and members.

§  How a business-partnering focus aims to expand future finance professionals’ skillsets.

§  Essential skills to empower professionals across various roles and industries.

This episode features Oliver Rowe, FM’s editor-in-chief, detailing the contents of the magazine’s June digital edition.

The discussion begins with a focus on the CGMA Professional Qualification’s May update. Rowe also details the key points of an article about accountability and discusses the magazine’s regular columns and features.

The episode closes with an explanation of how members can access the June digital edition as well as the issue library.

Previous 2025 episodes about the digital editions:

n  February

n  April

What you’ll learn from this episode:

·         Highlights of an article about the CGMA Professional Qualification update.

·         Advice in an article about dealing with the growing threat of deepfake fraud.

·         A summary of the president’s column by Simon Bittlestone, FCMA, CGMA.

·         Details of one article’s focus on the social-return-on-investment framework.

·         An explanation of vertical and horizontal accountability and their relationship to the finance function.

This episode of the FM podcast is the continuation of an occasional series on the show called Beyond the Code.

That means taking a detailed look at part of the CIMA Code of Ethics.

Xose Lumor, manager–Advocacy and Professional Ethics, discusses details with Monique Samuel, associate manager–Professional Conduct, on how members can properly handle official complaints and what they should know about the process if a complaint moves forward.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

n  A downloadable ethics checklist.

n  CIMA Member in Practice Rules.

n  A summary page on CIMA’s approach to potential sanctions.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

·         An introduction of the topic and a refresher on the Beyond the Code series.

·         Why members in practice should maintain communication with a client that has raised an official complaint.

·         An explanation of resources, including an ethics checklist that can help members deal with ethical dilemmas.

·         Samuel’s summary of the process after an ethics complaint is referred to the Disciplinary Committee.

·         A reminder that such complaints are rare.

Bayport Financial Services’ CEO Alfred Ramosedi, FCMA, CGMA, explains why having employees return to the office is not enough to improve productivity and why leaders should transparently explain expectations of workers. 

Ramosedi details the benefits for organisations that are intentional about bringing employees back to the office, where morale could be affected by return-to-office policies, and what three things senior leaders can do to drive productivity across all work models and environments. 

What you’ll learn from this episode:

§  Four reasons companies are asking employees to return to the office.

§  Why leaders need to understand and communicate how they intend to measure productivity.

§  Three possible advantages for companies’ bringing employees back to the office.

§  Morale concerns that could arise from return-to-office policies.

§  The importance of rewarding employees with flexible working arrangements.

§  Three things leaders can consider to drive productivity across all work models.

Author Mike Drayton, a clinical psychologist and leadership coach at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, explores attributes professionals can build on to be more persuasive at work, key distinctions between persuasion and manipulation, and examples of coercion in the workplace.

He also explains why expanding influence in the workplace is less about “clever words or phrases” and more about exhibiting expertise and reliability.

On 8 May, Drayton is scheduled to speak on influencing and persuasion skills at AICPA & CIMA’s 2025 CPD 360 Annual Conference at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement in the UK. 

Last July on the FM podcast, he shared tips for managing burnout, including how to adopt firm boundaries to prioritise wellbeing.

What you’ll learn from this episode: 

§  Some differences between influence and persuasion.

§  Attributes and behaviours that can make us more persuasive.

§  Distinctions between persuasion and manipulation.

§  How to spot and respond to coercive tactics in the workplace.

§  Two fundamental traits that make us more respected at work.

§  Questions to help professionals identify their strengths and weaknesses.

This episode features Oliver Rowe, FM’s editor-in-chief, detailing the contents of the magazine’s April digital edition.

The discussion highlights articles on artificial intelligence (AI), including one that advises how finance can steer AI adoption. Rowe also details the key points of an article on understanding and avoiding burnout and discusses April’s regular columns.

Also included: an explanation of how members can access the April digital edition as well as the issue library.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

·         The edition’s focus on AI and explanation of three AI-related articles.

·         Advice from regular FM writer Rhymer Rigby on avoiding burnout.

·         A practical Excel article: How to create a chart template in Excel.

·         The other articles in the edition, including regular columns, a Q&A with Association CEO Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, and Institute News.

·         Ways to access the April edition.

Andrew Pain, a motivational, mental health, and wellbeing speaker, explains why we should be cautious about using gut feelings to help us make decisions. 

Pain also explains psychological and environmental steps we can take to ensure our decision-making processes are fair and logical and offers ways organisations can make conversations around biases more comfortable and accessible.

“If we want to make better decisions, then we need to understand these biases and how we relate to them,” Pain said.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

§  Why our gut instincts are often flawed.

§  A mental checklist for working through problems effectively.

§  Resources to improve our awareness of biased thinking.

§  One way organisations can improve bias training courses.

§  Environmental factors and stimuli that can interact with cognitive processing.