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26 Oct, 2014

New Global Management Accounting Principles Released to Drive Better Organisational Decision Making

Hong Kong, Oct 23, 2014 – (ACN Newswire) – The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) – two of the world’s largest accountancy bodies – yesterday released new Global Management Accounting Principles to improve decision-making as organisations struggle with data overload, dispersed workforces and the blistering speed of change.

Research commissioned by CIMA and the AICPA shows the scope of the challenges. The survey, conducted in August by Longitude Research, reached 1,100 senior executives from 35 countries and found:

— Organisations are rethinking how decisions get made. 73% of those surveyed said successful companies will increasingly empower workers to make autonomous decisions.

— But they lack a framework to ensure quality. Just 36% said that today they can easily ensure consistent quality decisions at all levels of their organisations.

— They need to make better use of available information. 91% want a process to pull more insight from financial and non-financial data to inform decisions.

— And they are looking to the finance function for help. 89% said a stronger partnership with Finance in the decision process will help them better manage their organisations over the coming years.

The Global Management Accounting Principles respond to these needs, providing a blueprint for effective analysis that can be universally applied in organisations large and small, public and private anywhere in the world. They were developed by CIMA and the AICPA with input from CEOs, CFOs, academics, regulators and other professionals in 20 countries on five continents during a public consultation this year.

The four Principles focus on breaking down silos through influential communication; surfacing the most relevant and reliable data for examination; driving analysis that reveals impact on organisational value and promoting integrity and trust that protects long-term sustainability. The framework details how each Principle is applied across 14 different practice areas, ranging from investment appraisal to treasury and cash management.

Charles Tilley, FCMA, CGMA, Chief Executive of CIMA, commented: “We work with a range of organisations across the world and can see that decision-making is becoming more and more difficult as complex information flows so much faster. Too often, impulse substitutes for insight and we need a dramatic improvement in the way decisions are made at all levels. These Principles will help CEOs and their teams achieve higher-quality decision-making across their organisations.”

Management accounting is like the GPS for the C-suite, guiding strategy through the provision of future focused insight and analysis. While it sits alongside financial accounting, it has lacked the same level of guidance to ensure consistent practice worldwide. The Principles help fill the gap.

Barry C. Melancon, CPA, CGMA, President and Chief Executive of the AICPA, said: “The issuing of these Principles is significant. They will help bring structure to chaotic complexity and empower evidence-based decision-making that prioritises long-term success over short-term gains. With the Principles in place, management, stakeholders, investors and the public can have more confidence in the actions that organisations take.”

The Principles are the latest milestone for CIMA and the AICPA, which are elevating the profession of management accounting through a global joint venture that also awards the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation to qualified professionals.

The Principles have already received widespread support from business and government leaders.

Ms Amy Lam FCMA, CGMA, Group Finance Director, Jardine Shipping Service and Chairlady of CIMA Hong Kong, said: “With the voluminous information available today, it is important that these are presented and analysed appropriately for various stakeholders to facilitate their decision making. GMAP has really served this purpose by bringing a framework that every business enterprises can adopt and tailor for their own use. This will certainly bring out the optimal use of Management Accounting and adding value to companies in the long run.”

Dr Aidan Goddard FCMA, CGMA, CFO&COO – Asia Pacific, L’OCCITANE en Provence and Vice Chairman of CIMA Hong Kong said “The publication of global management accounting principles will further clarify for stakeholders, whether employers, managers, members or students, the scope and importance of the discipline as they work to add value for their respective organisations.”

For more information about the Principles, visit www.cgma.org/principles.