The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants has elected John Graham, FCMA, CGMA, as its 92nd president, the group announced on June 18.
In addition, he will also serve as 10th co-chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the global alliance formed by the AICPA and CIMA in 2017.
During his one-year term as CIMA president, Graham will be working alongside Association of International Certified Professional Accountants chair Lexy Kessler and association CEO Mark Koziel to chart a forward-looking path for the profession through its Finance and Accounting 2040: Rise to the Future Together project.
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“It is an honor to serve as 92nd president of CIMA and 10th co-chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, leading a global organization that fosters trust, enables opportunity, and advances prosperity for people, businesses, communities, and economies worldwide,” Graham said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that he is stepping into his new role “with purpose and optimism and look forward to listening, connecting, and shaping our future together.”
Graham has spent a large part of his career in the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, working for a range of NHS organizations, including the Department of Health, and has held CFO and director of finance roles for the last 16 years. He is currently CFO of Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust and Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and is deputy chief executive of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.
He is the first sitting CIMA president to concurrently hold a full-time executive position within the NHS during his term.
Over the next 12 months, Graham will be engaging with members and candidates in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America to highlight the expanding career opportunities in accounting and finance driven by new technology, such as artificial intelligence, and fast-growing areas, such as business sustainability.
“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—anticipating the skills, knowledge, and opportunities that will define the next generation.”
Graham became an Associate Chartered Management Accountant in 1999 and a Fellow Chartered Management Accountant in 2011. Over the years, he has been an active ambassador and advocate for CIMA, holding various leadership positions with both the institute and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, with an emphasis on promoting the management accounting profession and enhancing member engagement.
He has previously served as a member and chair of both the CIMA Lifelong Learning and Professional Standards committees, and currently serves on the membership committee, the exam board, and the appointments committee. He also chaired the CIMA Northwest England and North Wales Area Board and still serves as a member of the area board.
Graham ives with his wife in Liverpool, U.K., and has three children. He is chair of a school multi-academy trust and a non-executive director for New Directions, a leading provider of adult social care services. He also enjoys traveling and is a big sports fan.
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