Managing a full-time career whilst striving for professional advancement is a balancing act many accounting and finance professionals face. Combining work commitments with continued education may seem daunting. Still, through our proprietary online learning and assessment platform, the CGMA® Finance Leadership Program (CGMA FLP) offers a flexible pathway to attain the Chartered Global Management Accounting® (CGMA®) designation and CIMA® membership. Bridgeen McLoone, ACMA, CGMA, group finance manager at Atlantic Dawn Group, started off with a degree in accountancy and human resources, laying a strong foundation for her professional ambitions. The CGMA FLP emerged as the perfect fit for McLoon, as she wanted to enhance her managerial skills and achieve the CGMA designation, a globally renowned distinction in management accounting. ‘I felt I needed to fulfil my qualifications just for my own confidence and to bring me to a new level to reach the managerial roles in the capacity that I wanted,’ McLoon said.
Developing a passion for continuous learning
McLoone chose the CGMA Finance Leadership Program as her learning pathway to the CGMA designation because it would accommodate her busy schedule as a parent and working professional. The opportunity to study at her own pace was just what she needed. ‘The [CGMA] FLP was ideal for me because with a busy permanent full-time job and a busy home life … when it was movie night, I was doing modules on my phone. I would put the children to bed, and I would work at night, and it really, really worked for me,’ she said. The flexibility of the CGMA Finance Leadership Program allowed her to complete modules independently and develop a passion for continuous education. ‘I was able to complete the modules on my own time and I actually became addicted to it,’ McLoon said.
Sharpening your strategic abilities with CIMA
The CGMA FLP takes a holistic approach to finance leadership, cultivating strategic thinking and emphasising the broader impact of financial decisions on organisational success. McLoone highlighted how achieving the CGMA designation has sharpened her ability to align financial strategies with her employer’s strategic goals. At Atlantic Dawn Group, McLoon oversees the complex aspects of financial reporting and compliance within the finance function. She also manages day-to-day operations, supervises the team, handles the preparation of management accounts, and ensures thorough preparation for year-end audits. ‘The exciting part of this role, though, is working on projects with the directors that align with the strategic direction of the company,’ McLoon said. Achieving the CGMA designation and CIMA membership has given her a laser focus on strategic decision-making. McLoon can seamlessly apply what she’s learned to her daily work and responsibilities. ‘It's commercially driven also, and you learn analysis techniques to guide you in decision-making,’ she said. ‘The CGMA [designation] focuses the person’s mind to really think about every decision they make, and the most important part of that is the impact that it has on the organisation as a whole.
Driving impactful results in your organisation
McLoon's journey exemplifies how the CGMA designation propelled her career trajectory and equipped her to navigate challenges, empowering her to drive impactful results within her organisation. ‘The CGMA designation will position you to be the best there is out there, and I think this designation equips you to think strategically from a financial and business operation perspective,’ McLoon said. ‘I do believe that I wouldn't have secured this position as finance manager … without the CGMA designation.’
