The learning journey and speed of change

The COVID-19 crisis accelerated us into a new era of digital engagement — an era characterized by greater personalization and omnichannel access.

At the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, we have a responsibility to the accounting and finance profession and to our members, and 42% of you have told us that you are unsure that you’ve adapted well to challenges resulting from COVID-19. We want to help, and in collaboration with our partner EY Seren, we present Human Signals: New patterns of behavior and the accounting profession. In this blog, we look at the second pillar of the report — the need for flexibility as we adapt and learn.

5 skills finance professionals need right now

Even before the current crisis, digital transformation and new ways of working were significantly influencing the skills and capabilities finance teams need. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated that need as people and businesses now seek digital experiences and solutions more than ever.

Recently at the Interactive Solution and Key Initiative Sessions, the ENGAGE 2020 kickoff event, I shared insights [listen here via podcast] from my conversations with CFOs worldwide. They told me the skills and competencies finance teams must develop to adequately support the business in today’s world. These skills include:

3 ways to stay marketable during an economic downturn

These are tough economic times, with unemployment levels at a record high. It’s an unsettling situation, but there are steps you can take today to future-proof your career. On a recent Go Beyond Disruption podcast, Beth Berk, recruiter for the finance and accounting profession; and Clar Rosso, the Association’s EVP of Engagement, Learning and Innovation; shared three things you can do to stay marketable during an economic downturn.

6 ways CPAs are making a difference right now

Healthcare and frontline workers have the daunting task of keeping communities safe, clean and fed. We salute them. Accountants and finance professionals have the responsibility to lead businesses through the economic recovery.

You’re needed now more than ever. Here are six ways you’re making a difference.

1. You help small businesses stay afloat and preserve jobs.

Small businesses are dealing with a multitude of COVID-related problems and are relying on your expert advice, including understanding the details and application process for the Paycheck Protection Program. In this podcast, experts untangle key parts of the application, and the Town Hall Series: CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program offers up-to-the-minute news on PPP and the CARES Act.

3 reasons it’s time to embrace virtual learning

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has made an impact worldwide like generations of us have never seen. From how we buy groceries, the ways we socialize, school our children and work, our current normal is often virtual.

Suddenly, you’re working from home in your sweatpants (admit it) and holding meetings via videoconferencing. You might feel uncomfortable with the technology you’re now forced to use. The good news is you’re learning on the job. When life gets back to normal, many of you will have picked up a new technology skill or two that you’ll continue to use for work or even in your personal life.

Free AICPA resources to help you navigate COVID-19

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is causing enormous consequences around the globe, and we know many of our members are experiencing uncertainty and concern for what’s next. The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the global voice of the AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), is here to help you through these challenging times.

Your firms, organizations, clients and communities are depending on your expertise during this crisis. And it’s our job to make sure you have the help and information you need to manage through this pandemic.

We created the AICPA Coronavirus Resource Center to provide you with the latest news, resources, event information and guidance to help you advise your organizations, clients and customers. You’ll also find resources to help you and your staff better manage our new way of working. Bookmark the page and visit often for the latest updates on COVID-19 and new learning opportunities like these:

It’s not too late to resolve to improve

The first month of the year is over and, for several reasons, I’ve not committed to any goals in 2020. Has that happened to you? I always try to set goals around learning — one for fun and one to enhance my career. Let’s apply that adage, “It’s better late than never.”

The digital revolution has changed my communications profession. Dedication to learning is not optional. It’s mandatory for me to keep up. As a CPA, you are also in a constant race to outpace change. Technological developments fuel workplace changes and challenge you to stay on top of every skill set. To thrive in the digital era, you need to “unlearn” some old routines and develop some new (and unexpected) skills and competencies. Here are four resolutions every CPA should consider this year:

The world is your classroom: Build your 2019 learning plan in minutes

Picture it: A knockerupper and a powdermonkey walk into a packed bar. To their surprise, there’s only one barstool left. The knockerupper looks over at the powdermonkey and says, ‘Are you gunning for that seat?’ to which the powdermonkey responds, ‘Don’t look so alarmed.’

Okay. Admittedly, the punchline would probably make more sense if knockeruppers and powdermonkeys were still relevant professions today. But that’s kind of my point. Because this joke illustrates an imperative, timeless truth:

Lifelong learning is no joke.

Summer Jobs: More Than Money in Your Pocket

School’s out and many high schoolers and college students are taking summer jobs. Seasonal work can provide extra spending money for many teens or much needed funds for school expenses. But summer jobs aren’t just about earning a paycheck and learning how to manage the money you’ve made. These jobs provide valuable work experience and help youth develop professional skills and discover their talents. It’s an opportunity to take responsibility, learn time management skills and figure out how to get along with co-workers. Summer jobs also provide future employment references, mentorship and can even help teens succeed in school, according to Stanford researcher Jacob Leos Urbel.

Learning and Professional Development Go Virtual

An Update on the Future of Learning from AICPA ENGAGE

2017 is expected to be the year of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI) and digital assistants, according to Newsweek. Analysts at Gartner also included these technologies in their 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2017.  It’s likely you are engaging with many of them already. Perhaps you have an Alexa device on your kitchen counter or you’ve asked Siri a question on your iPhone. If you’ve used Uber or Lift or clicked on a personalized Amazon recommendation, you’ve taken advantage of AI. But have you thought about how these emerging technologies will impact your learning and professional development?

The exhibit hall at AICPA ENGAGE has a plethora of tech demos including AR and VR. I stopped by to see what the AICPA Learning Design and Development team has been working on and got an opportunity to try their virtual reality and augmented reality experiences. This was my first time trying these immersive technologies, and I was eager to put on the VR headset to see what all the buzz was about.

Virtual reality (VR) gained popularity in gaming and is steadily moving into educational settings as the VR headwear becomes more affordable. My middle school-aged daughter has used Google Cardboard in her classroom, and VR is beginning to gain ground in professional development as well. The use of this technology engages multiple senses, which can help a learner retain new knowledge in a way that a text simply can’t. It makes it possible to interact with and manipulate content. VR also mitigates the distractions found in a traditional classroom and forces a student to focus. It is perfect for visual learners.

5 Ways to Develop Your Professional Skills Through Digital Learning

Disruption in the marketplace, changes to regulations, tax reform, technology advances and globalization make developing professional competencies more important than ever for CPAs. According to a recent Harvard Business Review article, “continuous and persistent learning isn’t merely a decision. It must become a habit. And as such, it requires careful cultivation.”

Ongoing skill development is critical for maintaining your professional relevance. You need to dedicate time to continue your competency development. But where do you start, and how do you fit it in to your schedule? Digital learning activities provide opportunities to incorporate learning into your daily life and offer flexibility that a traditional classroom can’t. Here are five digital learning activities to try: