Our identity in the future of finance
Finance is the cornerstone of organisational strategy and survival, which stems from our ability to foresee and adapt to a dynamic environment and navigate decision-making by analysing, communicating, and collaborating with colleagues and partners. But it is equally important to illuminate who we are, what we believe in, and how we see our role in society.
In analysing the interviews and roundtable discussions, we confirm that finance regards trustworthiness, independence, credibility, and reliability as fundamental professional values. Accordingly, finance forms a realistic picture of ongoing activities and future projections and tells it as it is. We understand that while applying a combination of these qualities is critical, it is increasingly challenging to maintain. We are living and working in a constantly changing world, where information is generated in real time and comes in various forms, reporting deadlines are shrinking from monthly to weekly or even daily, and many factors are difficult to measure. This research gave us a clear indication that reliability can only be achieved by adhering to the gold standard of skills and competencies — both technical and interpersonal. By adhering to that standard, we capitalise on the collective intelligence, knowledge, and experience of organisations. Hence an ethos of collaboration, sharing, and life-long learning are instrumental to adding value and contributing to the success of our organisations.
Yet, doing what is right has a new meaning today. It still includes improving the welfare of our stakeholders. But given that they increasingly care about how the organisation impacts societies, communities, and the planet, we need to illuminate and nurture that focus. The scope of our involvement in measuring, reporting, and setting sustainability targets is yet unclear and varies across markets, industries, and organisations. Despite that, many participants expressed the view that our participation in the sustainability domain will define the future and the next generation of leaders and professionals in finance. This participation builds on our ability to compile, validate, and interpret critical data sets and co-create viable business options. Thus, we continue partnering and positively challenging ourselves and colleagues to push the boundaries of what is feasible.
