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Articles by Steph Brown
Chancellor delivers UK Autumn Budget
A statement said that CIMA “would have liked to see stronger action” on employment costs and other barriers to business productivity. The UK Autumn Budget, delivered Wednesday by Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey, addresses business growth in several provisions, including plans to ease procurement for innovative companies. A government news release about the Budget highlighted two potential barriers related to business hiring: non-compete clauses and visa policies.
UK mid-market business activity grows at highest rate in nearly 2 years
Business activity accelerated for mid-market UK businesses in September, and small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) moved closer to stability, according to the latest data from NatWest. Mid-market companies (50 to 500 employees) grew at the highest rate in nearly two years, driven by strong demand for technology services, lower employer risk aversion, and more sales opportunities, the bank’s UK Business Growth Tracker found.
ISSB seeks feedback on proposals for nature-related disclosures
The International Sustainability Standards Board’s proposals are intended to help companies provide material information to investors about nature-related risks and opportunities. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) published an exposure draft of its proposals for nature-related disclosures.
Overspending on AI is a concern for CFOs — but it’s not the only one
AI costs are exceeding budgeted amounts for many survey respondents, but finance leaders in the UK, US, France, and Germany remain confident in AI’s value. Most finance leaders in a new report say their companies are overspending on artificial intelligence and that AI is increasing reporting burdens. Yet, they remain confident in AI’s ROI.
UK hiring rises slightly, pay growth moderates
UK recruitment activity continues to reflect growing business confidence, a monthly report shows, but pay growth tempers amidst growing demand for staff. An increase in UK hiring even with a slight drop in vacancies suggests growing confidence among employers, according to the latest UK Report on Jobs by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. Permanent hiring increased for a second consecutive month in September, marking the strongest rise in four years.
CIMA’s policy proposals for UK budget and Sri Lanka treasury
Ahead of the UK Autumn Budget in late October, CIMA’s main priority for Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey is to create a tax system that supports rather than discourages hiring, investment, work, and business expansion. “Employer and employee taxation, frozen thresholds, VAT, business rates, corporation tax, and the administrative burden of compliance interact with rising operating costs and weak demand,” the CIMA Autumn Budget Submission 2026 said.
IASB opens consultation on hedge accounting requirements
The International Accounting Standards Board seeks feedback on the effectiveness of hedge accounting requirements in IFRS 7 and IFRS 9. The IASB is seeking stakeholder feedback to review whether hedge accounting requirements in IFRS 7 and IFRS 9 are working as intended and delivering the expected benefits for investors and other users of financial statements.
Quantum finance lessons on risk and uncertainty
Arif Ahmed, ACMA, CGMA, Ph.D., author of Quantum Finance: The CFO’s Survival Kit for an Uncertain World, joined the FM podcast to discuss the relationship between quantum theory and corporate finance. Ahmed explains why financial models are hindered by mindset, strategies for rethinking financial modelling and risk management in an increasingly interconnected era, and how finance professionals can use technology to emulate quantum principles in financial models.
Most companies active in Europe plan to expand, survey finds
Europe ranks ahead of Asia and North America as a destination for business investment, a survey of leaders from other regions shows. Germany and the UK were the top two target countries. Confidence in Europe is growing among business leaders. More than a third of decision-makers (35%) name Europe the most attractive region for their business, ahead of Asia-Pacific (excluding China) and North America, a global survey shows.
AI interviews are driving candidates away
Artificial intelligence (AI) in hiring is increasing, but as more candidates encounter those tools, more are opting out of the process and losing trust in employers. US job seekers are experiencing the most AI-driven hiring processes (63%) among five countries surveyed — followed closely by Germany (57%) and Australia (54%) — with AI interview exposure nearly twice as high as in Ireland (36%), Candidate AI Interview Reportby software company Greenhouse found.
UK permanent hiring rises for first time in 4 years
Permanent staff placements in the UK increased in August for the first time since September 2022, according to the latest KPMG and Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) UK Report on Jobs. Recruiters attributed the improvement to stronger market confidence and efforts by some employers to expand capacity, although uncertainty about the economic outlook and government policy continued to limit growth, the report said.
ENGAGE speaker: Strategic thinking isn’t just for CEOs
Devya Athwal, founder of Athwal Resourcing & Coaching, is scheduled to present two sessions at ENGAGE UK & Europe, 13–14 October in London. Athwal returned to the FM podcast to discuss the mindset shifts that help finance professionals become more resilient and adaptable in the face of uncertainty, why professionals don’t need a leadership title to be strategic, and tips for improving task prioritisation when demand exceeds capacity.
Companies’ financial value from AI holds firm in 2026
Mere experimentation with artificial intelligence (AI) is less common as more companies, especially large enterprises, put AI agents to use in their operations. An annual state-of-AI survey by McKinsey & Co. summarises a decade of AI adoption, and while changes year over year aren’t dramatic, they do show how companies are scaling its use.
ISSB requests feedback on proposed digital taxonomy updates
The updates reflect the targeted amendments the International Sustainability Standards Board made to IFRS 2 last year. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) issued proposed updates to the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Taxonomy (ISSB taxonomy).
AI investment rises, but business value lags
AI investment is growing and adoption is nearly universal, but real business value remains elusive. Accenture’s quarterly C-suite survey, Pulse of Change, shows that organisations are struggling to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) beyond day-to-day efficiency to unlock enterprise-level transformation, but leaders are confident those investments will pay off soon. Accenture surveyed 3,000 C-suite leaders and 3,000 employees globally between April and June.
Irreplaceable attributes in an AI world — Q&A with the CIMA president
CIMA president Alfred Ramosedi, FCMA, CGMA, detailed the competencies that finance professionals need to navigate AI and how to transform “suffering” into growth and opportunity.
AI errors and poor data quality fuel investor scrutiny
Most investors in a new survey cite concerns about AI accuracy in company disclosures, and more than one in four executives report that AI errors have been detected in information that reached external audiences or company boards. Investors want to see measurable results from artificial intelligence (AI) investments. At the same time, evidence of AI-generated errors and poor data quality has created a high level of distrust in corporate disclosures.
Data breach costs climb as AI-powered attacks surge
Cyberattacks are getting cheaper; breaches are getting costlier. That’s one key point of an annual report that underscores how artificial intelligence (AI) is radically changing the cyber-threat landscape. More than one in four organisations experiencing a malicious attack reported that it was AI‑driven, a 56% increase over last year. The average cost of a data breach climbed 12% globally over last year, reaching nearly $5 million, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2026.
UK hiring measure hits neutral level for first time since 2022
July marks the first month without a drop in permanent hiring since September 2022, but companies remain more reliant on temporary workers. Increases in permanent and temporary hiring in the UK in July mark the strongest signs of job market recovery in nearly four years, according to a monthly report. The UK Report on Jobs’ main hiring measure — the Permanent Placements Index — reached the neutral level of 50 in July for the first time since hitting 51.2 in September 2022.
Employees increasingly consult AI, not coworkers
A global survey shows that regular AI use makes employees feel more self-sufficient, but AI is also replacing informal interactions that foster learning. Artificial intelligence (AI) is making workers feel more self-sufficient, but it may also be reducing the informal exchanges that empower learning and build relationships. Employees reported that regular AI use has bolstered self-sufficiency (71%) and confidence in independent decision-making (62%) in the past year.
Build trust with a stewardship mindset
podcast NEWS Sponsored by Blackbaud Eric R. Alexander, CPA, president of advisory service company Six Arrows Consulting, discusses the lessons he’s learned throughout his career in finance and what being a finance leader means for him, and other insights from his upcoming book, Stewardship Leadership for Stinkin’ Accountants: Serving as the CFO.
5 steps for making better decisions under pressure
Leadership and mental health speaker Andrew Pain returns to the FM podcast to discuss his ENGAGE UK & Europe session, outline his five-point framework for enhanced decision-making, and share more common biases that distort critical thinking. Pain also explains the importance of clarifying information instead of relying on gut instincts to form conclusions. ENGAGE is 13–14 October in London. Registration is open until 9 October.
FRC opens consultation on proposed 2027 taxonomies
The UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC) issued a draft version of its 2027 taxonomy suite to ensure the proposed changes are aligned with current reporting and assurance requirements. To prepare for upcoming digital reporting requirements from Companies House, the draft introduces the first-time digitisation of FRS 103, Insurance Contracts, under the FRS 102 entry point of the taxonomies, a news release said.
As AI use in cybersecurity rises, so do the risks
news TECHNOLOGY The gap between deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in cybersecurity and confidence in those tools is widening as organizations struggle to establish governance for effective implementation, a global survey shows. Active use of AI in cybersecurity strategy among IT and security professionals rose from 50% to 78% in one year, according to 2026 SANS AI Survey Insights by SANS Institute, an information and cybersecurity training company.
As AI use in cybersecurity rises, so do the risks
The share of respondents actively using AI in cybersecurity strategy rose from sharply in a global survey, but governance is not maturing at the same pace as deployment. The gap between deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in cybersecurity and confidence in those tools is widening as organisations struggle to establish governance for effective implementation, a global survey shows.
CIMA calls for skills and tax reset by UK government
CIMA urges new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to give companies long-term certainty by reducing the cost of doing business. CIMA called for the UK government to put business growth at the centre of its reset with new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, starting with urgent tax and skills reforms.
IASB opens consultation on proposed taxonomy update
To support digital financial reporting in accordance with new and amended IFRS accounting standards, the IASB issued a proposed update to the IFRS Accounting Taxonomy 2025.
Fragmented talent data comes at a high cost
Decentralised talent data is restricting strategic succession, hiring, and workforce utilisation for organisations, a global survey shows. The lack of integration of talent systems means that more leaders use intuition rather than insights to guide talent initiatives. Data fragmentation is creating a financial and productivity drag across companies, according to data from Korn Ferry.
Leadership traits that help finance teams thrive
Leadership coach and mentor Sue Milne, FCMA, CGMA, describes strategic and interpersonal skills that can help finance professionals keep pace with evolving business expectations, along with questions that can help them grow as leaders. She also shares essential attributes for managing finance teams today, how leaders can maintain awareness of potential blind spots, and what core values contribute to inspirational leadership. What you’ll learn from this episode: What inspired her career transition.
UK government unveils significant reforms to SME investment
An additional 12,000 small- and medium-size enterprises per year are expected to receive support accessing funds to help grow their businesses. Tens of thousands of small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in the UK will receive financial support to grow their businesses through an expanded government initiative.
UK regulator revises pension standard
The UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC) revised Technical Actuarial Standard 310: Collective Money Purchase Pensions (TAS 310) to support decision-makers considering how fairness can be achieved across different groups of members in collective defined contribution (CDC) pension schemes. The targeted amendments follow recent government legislation to enable the operation of multiple-employer CDC pension schemes, a news release said.
Temporary hiring increases in the UK, report shows
Temporary hiring rose for the fourth consecutive month, and permanent hiring moved closer to stabilising, according to a monthly report on the UK job market. As UK employers grapple with cost constraints and market uncertainty, they are continuing to fill gaps more often with temporary workers than permanent hires. That’s according to the monthly UK Report on Jobs by KPMG UK and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.
Employer-employee transparency gap widens retention risks
While most employers say they don’t plan to reduce headcount this year, almost half of employees plan to find a new job in the next six months, a global report shows. Amidst growing job security concerns, almost half of employees (49%) in a global survey are planning to actively look for a new job in the next six months. However, redundancies are not top of mind for most employers in a global report.
CIMA named professional organisation of the year
CIMA was recently named as the professional/training organisation of the year at an international awards ceremony and received an honour in Sri Lanka. CIMA was recognised for its commitment to preparing talent for the future of the finance profession at the 16th International Accounting Awards in London last week. In addition, CIMA was awarded a superlative in Sri Lanka, being honoured as the country’s most loved professional institute by business magazine Lanka Monthly Digest.
‘Own your results’: Building accountability as a CFO
Eric R. Alexander, CPA, president of advisory service company Six Arrows Consulting, discusses the lessons he’s learned throughout his career in finance and what being a finance leader means for him, and other insights from his upcoming book, Stewardship Leadership for Stinkin’ Accountants: Serving as the CFO.
The state of business travel: Clear value, unclear policy enforcement
Half of business travellers skirt or flout travel and expense policies, a new global survey shows. Companies can learn from the perception of business travellers to reconsider policy definitions and explanations. Nearly every CFO in an annual survey says that business travel is important for overall business growth, and an overwhelming majority of business travellers say the trips boost their physical and mental health.
Alfred Ramosedi elected as CIMA president
Alfred Ramosedi, FCMA, CGMA, was elected 93rd CIMA president on Wednesday at CIMA’s 2026 annual general meeting. Ramosedi, a business leader with more than three decades of experience in South Africa’s financial and professional services sector, will also serve as the 11th co-chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the global alliance formed by CIMA and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).
Younger workers chase growth, not leadership titles
Slow and steady wins the race, according to younger workers. They want to develop on their terms rather than rapidly climb the corporate ladder, a stance that challenges employers to reconsider how talent is rewarded in the workplace. According to Deloitte’s 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, nearly twice the percentage of millennials and Gen Zs prefer a career path marked by steady progress (46% of millennials, 44% of Gen Zs) than one focused on rapid promotions and title changes (25% and 21%).
SMEs confident on overseas growth, despite headwinds
A global report finds that most SME leaders are optimistic about international expansion opportunities now and in the future, but geopolitical concerns linger. Despite global disruption, most leaders at small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) expect conditions for international business expansion to become more favourable in the next two to three years. That is one key takeaway from Kreston Global’s Interpreneur Report 2026: Mapping the Route to Interpreneurial Success.
With UK permanent hiring in decline, temporary work plugs gaps
Temporary hiring rises at the sharpest rate in over three years, but permanent staff appointments fall considerably. Companies in the UK continue to hold back on permanent hiring as cost pressures and market uncertainty shake employer confidence. Last month, permanent placements declined at the sharpest rate since July, according to the UK Report on Jobs, a monthly report by KPMG UK and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.
People power keeps productivity growing with AI
Irena Teneva, an associate technical director at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, joins the FM podcast to share insights gathered from a new AICPA and CIMA report, Future Ready Finance: Productivity at the Human-Technology Crossroads.
Organisational design, not skills, limits AI adoption
Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to meet the growing demands of business is top of mind for leaders, but closing the gap between hype and reality might be more about organisational design than skills. In Rewiring the C-Suite: The Fast Track to 2030, a global report by IBM, 86% of CEOs said that employees have the skills to collaborate with AI, but the CEOs reported that only 25% of the workforce is using AI regularly as part of their job.
Manager disengagement stalls innovation, hits productivity
Gallup estimates a loss of $10 trillion in productivity in 2025, catalysed by decreased engagement amongst managers globally. Employee engagement has dropped globally for two consecutive years, with lower engagement amongst managers contributing to about $10 trillion in lost productivity. Global employee engagement fell from 21% in 2024 to 20% in 2025, an annual Gallup survey showed.
Pitch perfect: Team sport helps finance students stand out
Claire DuRose, lead manager–UK Student Recruitment for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, and Vince Mayne, CEO of England Touch rugby, joined the FM podcast to explain the benefits of participating in team sport for students, specifically how team sport can grow skills and increase employability for finance graduates.
IASB issues rate regulation standard
IFRS 20, a new accounting standard for companies subject to a specific type of rate regulation, aims to improve financial reporting and transparency for investors. The IASB issued IFRS 20, Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities, a new accounting standard for companies subject to rate regulation that determines how much a company can charge customers and when it can charge them.
AI hiring saves time, but fraud risks are growing
Recruiters are turning to artificial intelligence-enabled screening to manage candidate volume and resource constraints. Fifty-eight per cent of hiring managers in a report said AI tools have had a positive impact on hiring, with the most common benefits concentrated in early-stage efficiency, including filtering low-quality applications and CV or application screening. However, The 2026 AI in Hiring Report by hiring software company Greenhouse found more fraud risks coming through the pipeline.
FRC amends FRS 101, outlines best practices for digital reporting
The UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC) issued amendments to Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 101, Reduced Disclosure Framework — 2025/26 Cycle, which brings to a close the latest annual review of the standard. The limited drafting changes focus on improving clarity and better articulating certain aspects of FRS 101.
CIMA reaction to UK government plans on late payments, regulation
King Charles III recently announced government bills designed to unlock business growth in the UK, including plans to help small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) save money. The Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill is aimed at addressing late payments and supporting the economic security of British businesses, the King said in a speech to Parliament on 13 May.
UK hiring falls again as geopolitical tension clouds economic outlook
Greater uncertainty due to the Middle East conflict contributed to a sharper reduction in permanent staff appointments, according to a monthly report. Growing market uncertainty contributed to a sharper fall in permanent hiring in the UK in April as overall business confidence weakened amidst geopolitical tensions and cost pressures.
CIMA urges businesses to rethink business models amid polycrisis
From geopolitical instability and rapid advances in artificial intelligence to climate change, biodiversity loss, and demographic shifts, organisations must be prepared to continually rework their business models as global risks accelerate and interact in unpredictable ways, a new CIMA report said. Businesses are operating in an era of overlapping and interconnected crises — often described as a “polycrisis”.
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