18 October 2007
CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) is teaming up with the University of Bath to launch the CIMA Centre of Excellence at the University of Bath School of Management on 20 November 2007.
The centre will conduct independent research into best practice in the development of finance professionals to maximise the value they add to their organisations. The results will enable employers across the globe to identify practical ways in which to drive their finance functions forward and help to shape plans and strategies to implement change in light of ongoing finance transformations around the world.
Research will be carried out with the input and participation of the global business community making it highly relevant to employers on an international scale and the Centre will work on several streams of research at a time. After the first year of research, results will be disseminated via an annual report. More specialised reports, relating to geographical areas or business sectors, will also be created along with articles, papers and related conferences.
Gordon Grant, CIMA President, says, 'The global business community is well aware that finance transformation is not only taking place but that it is also continuously evolving. CIMA has invested in the Centre to provide organisations around the world with cutting edge research into how to develop their finance professionals in line with the ongoing pace of business change.'
Robert Jelly, Director of Education at CIMA, says, 'The research developed by our collaboration with the University of Bath School of Management will chart the future of the finance function and provide organisations and employers with independent, international data that is both practical and relevant.'
Dr Philip Cooper, Director of the Centre, commented, 'As far as we are aware no other professional body and academic institution have come together to investigate these issues with such a focus on financial professionals so there is a definite sense of uniqueness in this enterprise.
'The CIMA Centre of Excellence at the University of Bath School of Management will undertake a comprehensive research programme to investigate the knowledge and skill needs of finance professionals, how these develop over their careers and best practice in meeting these needs so that the finance function maximises the value it adds to its organisation. These are not static issues and the research will encompass expected future developments in the roles of finance professionals and the finance function as their operating environment changes.
'We are very proud to have been selected to undertake this research and to have this prestigious link with CIMA.'
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For further information, please contact:
Katie Scott-Kurti
Senior Press Officer, CIMA
+44 (0) 20 8849 2347
Katie.Scott-Kurti@cimaglobal.com
Angela Gover
Marketing Manager
University of Bath School of Management
+44 (0) 1225 383526
A.F.Gover@bath.ac.uk
1. CIMA (the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) is the only international accountancy body with a sole focus on business. It is a world leading professional institute that offers an internationally recognised qualification in management accountancy, focusing on accounting in business, in both the private and public sectors. It is the voice of over 158,000 students and members in 161 countries. CIMA is responsible for the education and training of management accountants who work in industry, commerce and not-for-profit and has more members in the public sector than any other UK based body. CIMA prides itself on the commercial relevance of its syllabus, which is in tune with the activities of high performance organisations, and evolves continually to reflect the latest developments in global business. CIMA has been nominated as a UK superbrand for a second year in a row this year and for the first time in Sri Lanka. According to independent research conducted by the University of Bath School of Management, CIMA’s syllabus and examination structure are the most relevant to the needs of business of all the accountancy bodies assessed. See the CIMA Difference report for further information at www.cimaglobal.com/thecimadifference. CIMA is committed to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards of members and students, and to maintaining public confidence in management accountancy. For more information about CIMA, please visit http://www.cimaglobal.com/
2. Established in 1966, the University of Bath School of Management is one of the oldest business schools in Britain and has a long tradition in teaching and research and an international reputation for the quality of its programmes. The School offers a full range of courses from undergraduate to postgraduate, up to PhD level and post-experience programmes including the world-ranked Bath MBA. The School is currently ranked number 4 in the UK by the Times Good University Guide. The School has a faculty of 90 teaching and research staff, including visiting academics, with a support team of around 70 managerial and administrative staff. There are approximately 2,200 students in total on certificated programmes, comprising some 200 MBA students, 360 taught Master’s students, 180 research students, 400 Postgraduate Certificate students and over 1000 undergraduates following BSc degrees. The School also provides tailored executive development programmes for middle and senior management.
