IMA President and CEO Jeff Thomson visits India to talk about the future of the accountant in business

Janice Sevilla
+91 900 316 2258
janice.sevilla@imanet.org


Delhi, India, January 18, 2018– On January 17-25, Jeff Thomson, CMA, CSCA, CAE, president and CEO at IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) will be traveling to Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Delhi to talk to CFOs and management accounting professionals about the impact of big data, robots, cognitive computing and other emerging technologies affecting accountants in business.

Thomson has consistently been included in Accounting Today’s annual “Top 100 Most Influential People List” for the last five years. He was also named by Trust Across America as one of the “Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior” for six straight years, and was honored with the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The Accountant/International Accounting Bulletin recognized Thomson in its Global Accountancy Power 50 list of leading influencers, and named IMA 2017 “Professional Body of the Year.”

“I am excited to visit the corporate offices of MNCs operating in India to speak to CFOs and the finance team and address specific cases of how technology is currently enhancing the profession and changing the role of accounting and finance professionals,” explains Thomson ahead of his visit.

“Advancements in technology—automation, artificial intelligence, and the preponderance of data—require new skills from accountants,” says Thomson who is in the country to create new relationships with major corporates and help professionals and organizations address skills gaps – and prepare for the future – through CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) certification, the CSCA® (Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis) specialty credential, and continuing education.

Thomson will also be speaking at university conferences to discuss how academic institutions can align their accounting curriculum with the rapid pace of advancements in technology and teach the skills students need to be prepared for the changing workforce.

Specifically, Thomson will speak at a public conference at the Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce in Pune and at another conference in Bangalore co-organized by Christ University and the IMA Bangalore Chapter.

“IMA is a leading advocate for aligning accounting curriculum and continuing education with the complex business needs of today’s organizations. To date, we have established partnerships with 12 universities and colleges in India who want to work with us to update their educational programs. This means cultivating not only expected competencies in accounting and finance, but also developing competency in areas such as leadership, strategy, operations, and technology,” adds Thomson.

In Chennai, Thomson will deliver the Brahmayya Memorial Lecture, a joint initiative of the Society of Auditors and the Southern India Regional Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). The lecture is delivered annually in the abiding memory of P Brahmayya, a legendary chartered accountant and a past president of the ICAI.

“Across the globe, IMA works with like-minded organizations to deliver value to our members on a global scale. I am honored to be this year’s lecturer for this esteemed annual lecture. In India, ICAI has been a valued partner. We want to renew our relationship with ICAI as we share similar values to serve the profession,” explains Thomson.

Thomson will also be speaking at a public conference organized by Miles Education in Hyderabad and another conference in Chennai.

IMA is the only management accounting association with an active community and member base with more than 300 chapters, including more than 150 student chapters. In India, IMA has more than 3,000 active members with local chapters in Chennai, Delhi, and Bangalore.

To conclude his visit in the country, Thomson will be speaking at a conference in Delhi organized by the IMA Delhi Chapter.

About IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants)
IMA®, named 2017 Professional Body of the Year by The Accountant/International Accounting Bulletin, is one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) program, continuing education, networking and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. IMA has a global network of more than 90,000 members in 140 countries and 300 professional and student chapters Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., USA, IMA provides localized services through its four global regions: The Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Middle East/India. For more information about IMA, please visit www.imanet.org.

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