Ben Schwencke, chief psychologist at Test Partnership, a psychometric assessment and pre-employment testing service provider in the UK, joined the FM podcast to discuss common recruitment challenges facing employers, what psychometric testing entails and how it's implemented, and the use of artificial intelligence in recruitment practices.

In an earlier FM episode, an expert discussed how businesses are eager to embark on AI initiatives despite remaining wary of its pitfalls.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• Why an assessment of recruitment challenges in a business depends on who you talk to in the organisation.
  An explanation of psychometric testing and common concerns companies may have in using such testing.
• Why Schwencke considers it beneficial for job candidates to be allowed to take a practice test version of a psychometric assessment.
• The “two sides” to the use of AI in the recruitment process.
• Why recruitment methods should include tools that both incorporate AI and are resistant to it, according to Schwencke.

Stephen Flatman, vice-president–Education & Professional Qualifications at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, explains how the CGMA Professional Qualification (CGMA PQ) upgrade is designed to respond to the change of “shape” in the finance function and how those changes will propel businesses and expand opportunities for finance professionals.

Flatman discusses disruptions to role requirements and career development opportunities in a competitive job market and the skills and competencies required for finance professionals to drive organisations forward and future-proof their careers.

“I genuinely think we engineered the way we think about education, and that will transform the skills and competency acquisition of candidates going through the programme,” Flatman said. “We think that there's real growth in the strategic and analytical roles that we're preparing people for.”

What you’ll learn from this episode:

§ External factors driving talent development challenges for employers.

§ Some ways the CGMA PQ is changing to meet the growing requirements of the finance function.

§ What an evolving finance function means for students and members.

§ How a business-partnering focus aims to expand future finance professionals’ skillsets.

§ Essential skills to empower professionals across various roles and industries.

This episode features Oliver Rowe, FM’s editor-in-chief, detailing the contents of the magazine’s June digital edition.

The discussion begins with a focus on the CGMA Professional Qualification’s May update. Rowe also details the key points of an article about accountability and discusses the magazine’s regular columns and features.

The episode closes with an explanation of how members can access the June digital edition as well as the issue library.

Previous 2025 episodes about the digital editions:

n February

n April

What you’ll learn from this episode:

· Highlights of an article about the CGMA Professional Qualification update.

· Advice in an article about dealing with the growing threat of deepfake fraud.

· A summary of the president’s column by Simon Bittlestone, FCMA, CGMA.

· Details of one article’s focus on the social-return-on-investment framework.

· An explanation of vertical and horizontal accountability and their relationship to the finance function.