CGMA qualification is the future of finance: Strengthening credibility and influence

The finance profession is undergoing one of the fastest, most complex shifts. Markets modernise; business models flip, and technology pushes finance leaders to think faster and act smarter. 

For organisations across the Middle East and beyond, the demand for strategic, ethical and tech-literate finance leadership has never been stronger. The Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation is recognised as the global benchmark for future-ready finance professionals.

Built for the C-suite

For senior leaders like Mehdi Naoum, achieving the CGMA designation has been a defining factor in his progression to the C-suite. 

With over two decades of experience across telecoms and technology, Naoum brings a blended finance and tech mindset to his leadership.

“I always defined myself as a finance business partner, a decision helper, but I always wanted to be the decision maker,” says Naoum. 

For Naoum, the CGMA designation was not simply the next credential. It became the missing link between financial experience, strategic influence and modern leadership. That decision was also shaped by the realities of building a senior finance career in the Middle East, where professional designation still carries significant weight. 

“When selecting what to study, I asked myself what was on the CVs of the most successful CFOs, and what skills I still lacked,” he adds. 

Ethics as the core of leadership

Beyond credibility and progression, the CGMA designation also reinforced the leadership principles that matter most to Naoum.

The ethical backbone of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the CGMA framework aligned with his leadership values. It has helped him instil a culture of trust, curiosity and continuous growth across his teams. “Ethics is the background to the entire CGMA qualification. I’m an ethical person, but the CGMA professional qualification helps me structure ethics in every business thought,” Naoum states. 

What does ‘future-ready’ finance leadership mean?

For Naoum, being future-ready means developing teams that are agile, curious and prepared to continuously learn and unlearn. “Agility is critical. You need to be prepared for continuous learning and unlearning. Not all learning is good for you forever; sometimes you need to make space to unlearn.” 

He cultivates this mindset by encouraging experimentation, reflection and adaptability within his teams. This commitment to continuous learning is also why Naoum recently completed an AI masterclass, ensuring he and his teams stay ahead of emerging technologies. Naoum says; “Unless you are curious, you will not be on top of the game.”

Strengthening credibility and influence

Despite holding two master’s degrees, including an executive MBA from a top-ranked global school, Naoum saw CGMA qualification as the step that would strengthen his credibility and widen his strategic lens. He explains, “Being a CGMA qualified professional is stepping up to the decision-making stage and being very active in contributing to the main decisions in the business.”

His career in telecoms and technology shaped a leadership style built on curiosity and agility, which CGMA qualification reinforced.

Curiosity is not a personal trait; it is an expectation Naoum sets for his team. “I like the ‘why’ and the ‘how’. I want my team to be curious about why we are doing this, not be compliant blindly.” 

Three ways the CGMA designation supports C-suite leadership

Working alongside global peers exposed Naoum to new thinking, approaches and frameworks. It also helps him cut through operational noise and stay focused on what matters most.

He sees three clear areas where the CGMA professional qualification supports his day-to-day leadership:

• Refreshing core concepts: grounding strategic decisions in robust fundamentals.
• Sharpening day-to-day decisions: enabling faster, more confident judgement.
• Ethics as a backbone: embedding integrity into every business decision.

As Naoum explains, “Ethics is the universal language that connects teams across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.”

Navigating the hybrid finance world

Naoum highlights how the CGMA professional qualification equips him to lead in hybrid finance and tech environments, balancing innovation, risk and reward.

He explains that his company’s transformation from traditional telecoms to FinTech, Cloud, and Internet of Things (IoT) required dual-speed strategic thinking and agility.

How does the CGMA qualification help in those aspects? “Basically, it’s your toolkit. Everything comes without even thinking.” For him, the CGMA qualification is not just knowledge; it shapes decision-making, risk assessment, and strategic value creation.

Where CGMA professionals will create the most value?

Looking ahead, Naoum sees AI, data, and sustainability reporting as areas where CGMA professionals will create the most value. While AI and data can generate insight at speed, Naoum stresses that human judgement remains critical, especially in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A).

“You still need to interpret it. You still need to angle it differently. You still need to align it to your strategy.”

Sustainability is another major focus. “Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is also a means to create value. Business today is not all about money, but value. A CGMA professional is already tackling those aspects of ESG reporting,” he says.

In the Middle East, net zero commitments and sustainability reporting are rising, increasing demand for finance leaders who can bridge strategy, ethics and execution.

Advice for aspiring CGMA professionals

Naoum encourages mid-career finance professionals to pause and assess their ambitions honestly. He says, “You want to equip yourself to get there, to the C-suite, or be comfortable saying where you are? This question is vital and more important right now.”

He reflects that while there is no perfect time to embark on further study, the designation’s intangible benefits, strategic mindset, ethical framework and credibility are invaluable.

“I should have done it five years ago. There is no perfect time, but I’m still happy I’ve done it in 2024. The value for me was always more about the intangibles.” 

The CGMA professional qualification is more than a designation. For leaders like Mehdi Naoum, it is a toolkit for navigating complexity, making ethical choices and building future-ready finance teams.

Watch the full video on the future of finance leadership to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=346_N2S3HbI