John Graham has been elected as the 92nd President of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). He will also serve as the 10th Co-Chair of the AICPA.
Graham, who has spent much of his career in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), currently serves as the Chief Finance Officer for Tameside and Glossop IC NHS Trust and Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. He has held various CFO and Director of Finance roles for the past 16 years. Notably, he is the first sitting CIMA President to hold a full-time executive position within the NHS.
As CIMA President, Graham will work alongside Association Chair Lexy Kessler and AICPA CEO Mark Koziel on the Finance and Accounting 2040: Rise to the Future Together project, a forward-looking initiative for the profession.
Graham emphasized the profession’s resilience in the face of growing challenges. “The world is more unpredictable and challenging than ever before, yet the finance and accounting profession continues to show remarkable resilience,” he said. “There are great opportunities arising, driven by digital transformation and the increasing demand for finance professionals who bring not just technical expertise but critical thinking, agility and strategic insights. We must look ahead to create the future of the profession.”
Throughout his presidency, Graham will engage with CIMA members and candidates across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, focusing on emerging opportunities in finance driven by new technologies like artificial intelligence and business sustainability.
Graham also shared his thoughts on the honor of his election: “It is an honour to serve as the 92nd President of CIMA and 10th Co-Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. I am stepping into this year with purpose and optimism and look forward to listening, connecting and shaping our future together.”
A Fellow Chartered Management Accountant since 2011, Graham has held numerous leadership roles within CIMA and the Association, advocating for the management accounting profession. He has served as a member and Chair of various committees and currently sits on CIMA’s Membership Committee, Exam Board and Appointments Committee. He also chairs the CIMA Northwest England and North Wales Area Board.
