In this instalment of the Future of Finance 2.0 interview series, we speak to Olena Dubovska, ACMA, CGMA, UK P&T Finance Advisor & Senior Team Manager, Shell. Dubovska leads five project analysts at Shell business operations, based in Kraków, Poland. Her team supports Shell’s UK business with cost reporting and analysis insights for the full project life cycle. Key deliverables include monthly reporting and annual business plans.
In addition to Dubovska’s operational role, she’s also responsible for building a strong team culture and creating a purposeful work environment. Dubovska highlights the extensive remit that finance has across Shell as one of the main reasons she finds her job so enjoyable.
‘Finance plays one of the key roles in value creation in all aspects of the business across all levels — from cost control and preparation of management information for senior leaders to looking after the overall well-being of the company’s financial position’, says Dubovska.
Management accounting influences and promotes value creation. For instance, Dubovska and her team are involved in identifying and flagging up risks, defining strategy, driving business and finance transformation and much more.
Leading finance into the future
While digitalisation and automation are reshaping the role of management accounting, the results are also changing the profession for the better. But to stay relevant and seize automation opportunities, it’s important to constantly upskill and develop technical competencies.
Far from feeling threatened by the technological era, Dubovska is optimistic. Businesses will still need human beings to design the whole process, which requires a combination of finance, business and technical skills — and CIMA’s CGMA® designation equips management accountants with these skills.
In summary, the right mindset, together with building knowledge and expertise, can improve stakeholder management and position finance professionals as key players in decision-making. Listen to learn more.