CIMA elects first sitting NHS CFO as President
Healthcare CFO to lead CIMA and serve as Co-Chair of global accounting alliance during pivotal year for profession
John Graham FCMA, CGMA, has been appointed as the 92nd President of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), becoming the first sitting NHS finance leader to serve in the role while holding a full-time executive position.
He will also act as the 10th Co-Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the global alliance formed by CIMA and AICPA.
Currently CFO for both the Tameside and Glossop IC NHS Foundation Trust and Stockport NHS Foundation Trust—where he also serves as Deputy Chief Executive—Graham brings frontline public finance experience to the helm of the Institute during a time of digital disruption and shifting global expectations.
“The world is more unpredictable and challenging than ever before,” said Graham. “Yet, the finance and accounting profession continues to show remarkable resilience.”
His term as President will centre around the Finance and Accounting 2040: Rise to the Future Together initiative, a forward-looking project that explores how finance functions will evolve in response to new technologies, including AI, and growing emphasis on business sustainability.
“There are great opportunities arising,” Graham said, “driven by digital transformation and the increasing demand for finance professionals who bring not just technical expertise, but critical thinking, agility, and strategic insights.”
Graham will engage with members and candidates across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America over the next year, emphasising both the profession’s expanding global reach and the evolving skillsets required in tomorrow’s financial landscape.
“It is an honour to serve as 92nd President of CIMA and 10th Co-Chair of the Association,” he added. “I am stepping into this year with purpose and optimism and look forward to listening, connecting, and shaping our future together.”
Graham became an ACMA in 1999 and a Fellow in 2011. He has held numerous leadership roles within CIMA and the Association, including Chair of the Lifelong Learning and Professional Standards Committees. He is also a non-executive director in adult social care, Chair of a school trust, and continues to serve on CIMA’s North West England and North Wales Area Board.
