CIMA President to visit South Africa

John Graham FCMA, CGMA, President of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Co-Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), will visit South Africa from 25 to 29 May 2026 to meet CIMA members, CGMA students, business leaders, and stakeholders across the finance and business community.

The visit underscores CIMA’s continued commitment to advancing the development of the finance profession in the country, and driving meaningful change for people, businesses, and the wider economy.

Key Engagements During The Visit

During his visit, John will:

Serve as Chief Guest at the CGMA Convocation Ceremony, welcoming newly qualified CGMA designation holders to the profession;

Lead a roundtable discussion “From Recovery to Resilience – The World Is Being Reordered” with senior business and finance leaders to explore the evolving role of finance in driving organisational resilience and growth; and

Meet with CIMA members to discuss talent development and workforce readiness, and the future skills needed across finance, business and the wider economy in South Africa.

Leadership And Vision For The Profession

John was elected 92nd CIMA President and 10th Co-Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, representing AICPA and CIMA, on 18 June 2025.

Since his election, John has focused on demonstrating the value of the management accounting profession, attracting and nurturing new accounting and finance talent, and elevating the experiences of members and students.

As part of this vision, John has been working alongside Association Chair, Lexy Kessler, CPA, CGMA and Association CEO, Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA to chart a forward-looking path for the profession through the Finance and Accounting 2040: Rise to the Future Together project, with the first report set to be released in early June 2026.

Career Background And Industry Experience

John has spent a large part of his career in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, working for a range of NHS organisations, including the Department of Health, and has held Chief Finance Officer and Director of Finance roles for the last sixteen years.

He is currently Chief Finance Officer – Tameside and Glossop IC NHS FT & Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and Deputy Chief Executive – Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.

Commitment To The Profession

John became an Associate Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) in 1999 and a Fellow Chartered Management Accountant (FCMA) in 2011.

Over the years, he has been an active ambassador and advocate for the Institute.

John has held various leadership positions with both the Institute and the Association, with an emphasis on promoting the management accounting profession and enhancing member engagement.