illustrate why this percolator effect, with information filtered up and influence cascaded down, is crucial. In my opinion it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. Leading organisations are already transforming their finance functions to be more efficient and provide better information to enable evidence based decision making.They are also developing and deploying management accountants who can influence performance and risk management in the long term interests of stakeholders. Organisations not transforming their finance function in this way could be putting their competitive position at risk.