Jon Richards, a Partner at KPMG’s Defence Consulting practice with over 25 years of experience, has won the MCA Award’s 2024 Chartered Management Consultant of the Year Award.
The judges commended Jon as someone who has demonstrated huge commitment to challenging the sector and its clients to do the right thing, progressing new ways of working. They also praised him for his open-minded approach and being a standout team leader.
Here he offers his valuable point of view on the benefits of Chartered Management Consultant (ChMC) accreditation, explaining how he felt and the effect that becoming a ChMC has had on him.
On Why ChMC?
“There were a number of reasons,” Jon explains. Firstly, the formal recognition for his extensive experience appealed to him. He felt ChMC accreditation would grant him “a level of external credibility in the market” and establish him as a respected authority within KPMG.
He said:
I was keen to be one of the first at KPMG to become a Chartered consultant. I started my journey to ChMC status at a point in time where there weren’t that many chartered individuals, not only at KPMG but in the country. I knew that pursuing the accreditation would give me something formal and recognised by the industry that would add to my credibility. As a leader in my firm, I wanted to show the way to a number of colleagues and be an example for others to follow.
Jon continues:
“It’s really quite a fun experience to go through but also, one thing that I felt would be something that others would want to do, and I wanted to be able to share with them what the experience is. So, it’s a little bit of me being the kind of test run for it to demonstrate the value that it would give.”
Beyond external validation, Jon was drawn to the introspection the process become a ChMC demanded.
I’d never really stopped to think about the body of experience and capability I had accumulated over my career. The ChMC journey provided a dedicated space for reflection, allowing me to appreciate the depth of the capabilities I held and how they’d evolved. In the busy world we live in, I never really looked back and reflected on that.
ChMC: A Catalyst for Growth
Reflecting on his development, Jon highlights how ChMC encouraged him to think more clearly about his skillset. The structured framework provided a lens to assess his strengths and identify areas for improvement across leadership, communication, teamwork, and other crucial domains. Jon said:
I liked the way that the process of becoming Chartered encouraged me to think more clearly about my skillset across a number of very specific criteria, whether that be my leadership capability, my communication skills, my influencing skills or the type of team player I am. It allowed me to reflect on them and recognise which of them I felt I was strong in and which of them I felt I could refine. We could always develop regardless of where we are in our career and our journey.
This self-assessment wasn’t just about acknowledging his strengths; it was about fuelling his desire to grow.
A Champion for Others
Jon’s experience with ChMC accreditation means he actively promotes its value to others.
“I’m a huge advocate of it,” he declares. He has become an ambassador within KPMG, readily sharing his positive experiences and the transformative power of self-reflection it ignited.
Jon goes beyond mere advocacy; he plays a coaching role, guiding others on their ChMC journeys just as he was guided himself. He said:
“Many people both from within my team and outside of it come to me for advice. They are curious about my chartered status and what it means to me and how I have benefitted from it. I tell them about the positive experience I had, the reflection period, and the pride I feel for having the accreditation, which I still do. I encourage them to go through the process, because it will challenge them in a good way. I really liked the interview I had as part of the process. It was very interesting to discuss my experience. I share my feelings about the process with many people.”
The Impact of Recognition
For Jon, the possibility of becoming the ChMC of the Year is more than just a personal achievement. He admits that it would make him proud, but he also highlights the importance of acknowledging the social and economic benefits of his work. He said:
“Being recognised and appreciated for the social and economic impact of my work for my clients, and also for the positive influence I have on my team’s culture and performance would be great. Pride would be the main feeling for me. It would show me and my team that our hard work pays off, and I value their energy and support. It would also let me show others what being chartered means and how valuable it is and inspire my team to follow my example.”
Find out more about the Chartered Management Consultant Award.