Simon Bittlestone is CIMA’s new global President

• Says world is ripe with opportunities for accounting and finance profession
• Sri Lanka’s Hasanji Ellawala and Ameena Ziauddin appointed to Middle East, South Asia and North Africa Regional Engagement Group which will provide insights into the continent’s profession and shape the Association’s global strategic plan

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) this week announced that it has appointed finance transformation business leader Simon Bittlestone as the 91st President of the Institute. 

He will also serve as 9th Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), the world’s largest accounting membership body of public and management accountants. 

“The world is ripe with opportunities for the accounting and finance profession to create sustainable value, innovate, and be inclusive. Despite prevailing uncertainty in the world, these are exciting times for our profession and, over the next year, I intend to help accelerate and lead its continuous evolution to make the most of these possibilities,” said Bittlestone.

During his year in office, the focus of the profession will be on three critical areas: Firstly, Innovation and Transformation. New technologies, including generative AI and robotic process automation, are quickly revolutionising accounting and finance. CIMA and the Association will work on further empowering accounting and finance professionals to cultivate the mindset, skills, and knowledge they need to draw on the enormous possibilities they present. Secondly, Value and Sustainability. As businesses further integrate sustainability into their strategies and operations, CIMA and the Association will put great emphasis on promoting the role of accounting and finance professionals as trusted advisers, who are equipped to support organisations to drive meaningful, long-lasting change and sustainable value creation. And thirdly, Inclusion and Opportunity. Workforce demographics are rapidly evolving, and the profession must adapt to attract top talent. CIMA and the Association’s work will focus on fostering an inclusive profession, where anyone with the right aptitude and dedication has the opportunity to join the profession, seize opportunities for growth, and build a fulfilling career.

In this pivotal role, Bittlestone will work closely with the Association Co-Chair and American Institute of CPAs Chair Carla M. McCall. Together, they will work to provide nearly 600,000 American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and CIMA members, candidates, and registrants with the tools and resources they need to succeed and catalyse the profession into the future in a world of constant change.

Further commenting on his appointment, Bittlestone added: “It is a great honour to serve the profession and I want to say a huge thank you to CIMA members for putting their trust in me to act as CIMA President and Chair of the Association.”