UBS · 23 Oct, 08:24 · Finance briefing

Strategic: Strengthen your core

UBS highlights the critical importance of reinforcing foundational capabilities within organisations.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff

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83%of finance leaders rank upskilling a top-3 priority

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

UBS highlights the critical importance of reinforcing foundational capabilities within organisations. The report suggests that rather than chasing emerging trends, businesses should prioritise strengthening their core operational and strategic functions. This approach aims to build resilience and ensure long-term stability amidst market volatility. The analysis indicates that companies focusing on internal efficiency and robust core processes are better positioned to navigate uncertainty. This strategic pivot emphasises depth over breadth, urging leaders to audit and optimise existing resources before pursuing external expansion or disruptive innovation initiatives.

Employer demand for Project Management skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This shift towards core strengthening elevates the value of foundational skills in operational excellence and strategic oversight. You must demonstrate how your work directly supports organisational resilience and efficiency. Professionals in project management, finance, and risk management should highlight their ability to streamline processes and protect assets. Do not neglect these fundamentals for flashy new technologies. Instead, focus on mastering your current domain and proving your impact on core business metrics. Audit your skill set against your company’s strategic priorities. Identify gaps in your understanding of operational workflows. Proactively seek projects that optimise existing systems rather than merely building new ones. This pragmatic approach positions you as a stabilising force, making you indispensable during periods of uncertainty.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Project Management, Risk Management Strategies, Finance and Accounting and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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