Rafal Zborowski on how the CIMA CFO Programme sharpened his leadership
After rising through finance ranks, Rafal Zborowski, FCMA, CGMA, made a decisive change. Now a CEO and founder, his journey includes a management buyout and the launch of an advisory firm. He credits the CIMA CFO Programme for improving his leadership skills and career opportunities.
Zborowski shares how the programme, which supports experienced professionals in gaining the CGMA designation, helped him move from finance into entrepreneurship.
From exit to impact
When Zborowski began his finance career, his path was typical: a steady progression through analyst and director roles in investment management, corporate finance, and budgeting.
But everything changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, when the private equity owners of the EdTech company offered him the opportunity to lead a management buyout. He recalls, “When the fund offered me a management buyout, I took the chance.”
He stepped into CEO and CFO roles, leading a business turnaround. And shifted the business to focus on B2B, transforming results within two years. “We redesigned the organisation, built a new plan, and became the best-performing asset in B2B EdTech in Poland,” he says.
Today, he is founder and managing partner of boutique advisory Braincapital.pl. He helps Polish and international tech SMEs with mergers and acquisitions, financial transformation, and growth. “I want to use what I learnt to help others grow their businesses,” he says. Born from a passion for helping others achieve their goals, Braincapital.pl offers clients practical, experience-based insight beyond standard consultancy in a competitive advisory market.
He explains, “Until 2016, I followed a typical finance path - junior specialist, team manager, director of a management accounts department, then CFO. Then I did something different: I took personal risks.” This pivotal moment launched his entrepreneurial journey.
The CIMA CFO Programme
“‘CIMA gave me the tools and credibility to move beyond finance into business leadership, ”Zborowski says. He funded the CFO Programme himself, after discovering it on PwC’s website. This fast-track programme is for experienced finance professionals seeking to advance to CFO roles.
Zborowski completed the programme, accelerating his path to CIMA Fellowship. He says the experience changed the way he thought about business. The programme’s intensity and focus helped him grow while working alongside professionals from top global firms.
“The level was high. I was learning alongside CFOs from companies like Coca-Cola. It pushed me to think beyond accounting.”
The programme also gave Zborowski the space to focus on leadership. He highlights the quality of the lecturers and content as a key strength.
“CIMA helped me speak the language of business strategy, not just accounting. It’s about more than numbers; it’s about running a company effectively.”
The CGMA Competency Framework gave him practical tools he now uses today. “What CIMA gives you is the structure: how to manage the company, build the KPIs, analyse the model, and evaluate it.”
The CGMA Professional Qualification and CFO Programme continue to support his work in M&A and advisory. “A company with CIMA members on its board is seen as more valuable than one without. It is a kind of warranty that buyers will not encounter surprises. Companies with CIMA members at the top provide greater transparency and value.”
Why the CGMA designation matters
Becoming CIMA qualified accelerated his shift from finance to full-spectrum business leadership. “When you’re a CIMA member, people trust that there are no surprises behind the curtain. CGMA stands for high ethical standards and business thinking.”
The designation boosts trust, transparency, and company valuations in M&A and investor talks. “It’s a designation that tells people that you know how to run a business, not just close the books,” he says.
The CGMA designation assures clients of a high standard of professionalism and business judgement. It highlights the importance of ethical and professional guidelines, outlined in the CIMA Code of Ethics. “CIMA has strong ethical guidelines. That’s important when people trust you with their company.”
A competitive edge in advisory work
Today’s clients want advisors who’ve actually been in the seat, not only studied the seat. “It’s different from consultants who’ve never run a business. I’ve done it.” Rafal’s CGMA designation proves that “I understand strategy and execution.”
Now that Zborowski advises other companies through growth and exit strategies, he says the CGMA designation carries added significance. In his view, while Poland has local professional bookkeeping associations, they aren’t widely recognised globally, and CIMA is commonly listed in job ads as a requirement to secure an interview.
Foundations for the future
As the finance world shifts, Zborowski believes professionals must evolve. “In the future, operational finance will be replaced by AI. So, the role of finance will be to create value, and CIMA prepares you for that. Soft skills, once seen as optional, are now essential. Storytelling and leadership make all the difference,” he says.
Whether helping clients restructure, exit, or raise capital, Zborowski says his CGMA designation underpins everything he does.
“Finance professionals now need to go beyond reporting - they need to lead. And CIMA gives you that foundation,” he says. “We’re at a point where financial leaders aren’t just expected to report the numbers, they’re expected to drive the business.”
With the right mindset and qualification, finance professionals can go further. As Zborowski continues growing Braincapital.pl and supporting companies, he says that what he learned through CIMA supports every decision he makes.
Finance meets entrepreneurship
Zborowski advises finance pros to get close to all parts of the business, not only finance but also commercial and sales. He highlights that “Finance is not only about reporting numbers; it’s about being able to create value. A key skill for entrepreneurial CFOs is winning and convincing clients.”
Zborowski’s advice
- Develop business development and sales skills. The ability to win clients is critical.
Improve storytelling and soft leadership skills, vital in an AI-driven world.
Try to build your own personal brand, one that’s unique and yours.
Your network is your real asset. Without it, building your own business is tough.
Don’t only manage. Learn to communicate value and build trust.
Be ready to take calculated risks and push beyond traditional CFO boundaries.
Work with passion and engagement - if you don’t like what you’re doing, change it.
Finally, he says; “I always strictly follow the CIMA Code of Ethics. These are core values for everybody who wants to achieve any success in finance & management.”
The programme not only prepares you for today’s role. It sets you up for where finance is going. Ready to take your finance career further? The CIMA CFO Programme and CGMA designation open doors to leadership and impact.
