Can you face uncertainty with confidence?
The current geopolitical and economic climate presents an opportunity for CAs to steer organisations through volatility. An online ICAS course equips you with the tools to make it happen
Words: Fraser Allen
Can you face uncertainty with confidence?
The current geopolitical and economic climate presents an opportunity for CAs to steer organisations through volatility. An online ICAS course equips you with the tools to make it happen
Words: Fraser Allen
Words such as “uncertainty” and “disruption” may have become something of a cliche in UK plc, but that doesn’t relieve the pressure on businesses endeavouring to pick their way through an unpredictable future.
“Organisations are having to cope with geopolitical tensions, tariff chaos, supply chain disruption and fluctuating economies,” says Roy Chambers of ICAS training partner BPP, and leader of the course Enhance Your Finance Business Partner Skills.
“We live in turbulent times, and it’s very difficult to predict how to work your way out of that. But if you participate in this course, you will discover models, tools and insights that make a big difference. Being able to help the business that you work in navigate these challenges is a great skill to develop, and one that can significantly help your career.”
With extensive experience in both corporate finance and training, Chambers is well placed to bridge the gap between theory and practice. “The course is designed for any accountant working in a business setting,” he says. “That includes people who already have the title of finance business partner, as well as finance managers, analysts, controllers, planning managers and anyone that has business partner responsibilities within their role – or may do in the future.”
“Businesses are under pressure to achieve more and achieve better with less resources and, as accountants, we have the skills to solve these challenges”
Roy Chambers, BPP
Chambers began his career as Audit Manager at PwC before joining Kaplan to train accountants and then taking on senior international roles at British American Tobacco, culminating in the position of Finance Director for UK & Ireland. He has also worked closely with Chartered Accountants Ireland as Director of the diploma in Strategic Financial Leadership.
His hands-on background encourages him to place a strong emphasis on the practical nature of business partner skills rooted in real-world scenarios. He encourages participants to “add value” to the business they work in by bringing financial insights to collaboration with colleagues, marketing their skills through clear communication, and demonstrating their contribution to the organisation.
“It’s an opportunity for accountants to embrace a deeper understanding of the business they work in, take a more strategic approach and adapt to different styles of thinking,” says Chambers.
The course includes
- Practical tips for building positive finance business partner relationships.
- Tools for building and communicating your business insights.
- The knowledge you need to develop “super-forecasting” skills.
- Support on how to build trust, gain influence and challenge people within your organisation.
- Guidance on how to deliver the compelling story of the business you work in.
Slipping the silo
“I often talk about telling the story of the business through the numbers,” says Chambers. “The course is designed to help fellow accountants move out of their siloes and collaborate with others in the business, stepping beyond their technical capabilities to solve broader business challenges. We have so much to offer in terms of our expertise in areas such as pricing and cost management.
“A lot of businesses are under pressure to achieve more and achieve better with less resources and, as accountants, we have the skills to solve these challenges.”
The course content is flexible depending on who is taking part and what they want to learn. “We can go in several different directions,” says Chambers. “Different people will take different learnings from the day, whether it relates to stakeholder management, storytelling and communication, or commercial acumen.”
Chambers also acknowledges that accountants have a varying appetite for stepping out of their comfort zone – to some it is daunting, while others are keen to spread their wings. “Some CAs find it easier than others to work with that sense of uncertainty when it comes to interacting with different people on different topics, as opposed to the traditional, calendar-based, reporting side of accountancy work,” he says.
“But wherever you sit on the scale, this course will help you tackle business partner responsibilities with greater knowledge, better tools and more confidence.”
Enhance Your Finance Business Partner Skills is on 18 November 2025. To request more information or book your place, email ldicas@bpp.com
Words such as “uncertainty” and “disruption” may have become something of a cliche in UK plc, but that doesn’t relieve the pressure on businesses endeavouring to pick their way through an unpredictable future.
“Organisations are having to cope with geopolitical tensions, tariff chaos, supply chain disruption and fluctuating economies,” says Roy Chambers of ICAS training partner BPP, and leader of the course Enhance Your Finance Business Partner Skills.
“We live in turbulent times, and it’s very difficult to predict how to work your way out of that. But if you participate in this course, you will discover models, tools and insights that make a big difference. Being able to help the business that you work in navigate these challenges is a great skill to develop, and one that can significantly help your career.”
With extensive experience in both corporate finance and training, Chambers is well placed to bridge the gap between theory and practice. “The course is designed for any accountant working in a business setting,” he says. “That includes people who already have the title of finance business partner, as well as finance managers, analysts, controllers, planning managers and anyone that has business partner responsibilities within their role – or may do in the future.”
“Businesses are under pressure to achieve more and achieve better with less resources and, as accountants, we have the skills to solve these challenges”
Roy Chambers, BPP
Chambers began his career as Audit Manager at PwC before joining Kaplan to train accountants and then taking on senior international roles at British American Tobacco, culminating in the position of Finance Director for UK & Ireland. He has also worked closely with Chartered Accountants Ireland as Director of the diploma in Strategic Financial Leadership.
His hands-on background encourages him to place a strong emphasis on the practical nature of business partner skills rooted in real-world scenarios. He encourages participants to “add value” to the business they work in by bringing financial insights to collaboration with colleagues, marketing their skills through clear communication, and demonstrating their contribution to the organisation.
“It’s an opportunity for accountants to embrace a deeper understanding of the business they work in, take a more strategic approach and adapt to different styles of thinking,” says Chambers.
The course includes
- Practical tips for building positive finance business partner relationships.
- Tools for building and communicating your business insights.
- The knowledge you need to develop “super-forecasting” skills.
- Support on how to build trust, gain influence and challenge people within your organisation.
- Guidance on how to deliver the compelling story of the business you work in.
Slipping the silo
“I often talk about telling the story of the business through the numbers,” says Chambers. “The course is designed to help fellow accountants move out of their siloes and collaborate with others in the business, stepping beyond their technical capabilities to solve broader business challenges. We have so much to offer in terms of our expertise in areas such as pricing and cost management.
“A lot of businesses are under pressure to achieve more and achieve better with less resources and, as accountants, we have the skills to solve these challenges.”
The course content is flexible depending on who is taking part and what they want to learn. “We can go in several different directions,” says Chambers. “Different people will take different learnings from the day, whether it relates to stakeholder management, storytelling and communication, or commercial acumen.”
Chambers also acknowledges that accountants have a varying appetite for stepping out of their comfort zone – to some it is daunting, while others are keen to spread their wings. “Some CAs find it easier than others to work with that sense of uncertainty when it comes to interacting with different people on different topics, as opposed to the traditional, calendar-based, reporting side of accountancy work,” he says.
“But wherever you sit on the scale, this course will help you tackle business partner responsibilities with greater knowledge, better tools and more confidence.”
Enhance Your Finance Business Partner Skills is on 18 November 2025. To request more information or book your place, email ldicas@bpp.com
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