Simon Bittlestone, FCMA, CGMA, President of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, which represents AICPA & CIMA, will be visiting South Africa from 17 to 20 February 2025. He will be available for media interviews throughout his visit.
During his visit, Simon Bittlestone will attend a number of high-profile events with CIMA members, corporate partners, and government officials, including:
- Speaking to finance and accounting students at the University of Johannesburg about the future of the profession and inspire the next generation of accounting, finance, and business leaders. He will also be meeting with finance and accounting academics from universities across South Africa.
- Engaging with finance and accounting professionals across the public and private sectors at the Future of Finance 2.0 Forum to explore innovative strategies to unlock new opportunities, support long-term value creation, and foster sustainable growth within their organisations.
- Meeting with CIMA members to discuss trends affecting the profession, how AICPA & CIMA are adapting to stay at the forefront of accounting and finance amid rapid change, and support their members across Africa to excel in their careers.
Simon Bittlestone was elected 91st CIMA President and 9th Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, representing AICPA & CIMA, on 11 June 2024. During his year in office, Simon will focus on empowering accounting and finance professionals to cultivate the mindset, skills, and knowledge they need to draw on the enormous possibilities presented by new technologies. In addition, he will put great emphasis on promoting the role of accounting and finance professionals as trusted advisors, who are equipped to support organisations to drive meaningful, long-lasting change and sustainable value creation. He will also work on fostering an inclusive profession, where anyone with the right aptitude and dedication has the opportunity join the profession, seize opportunities for growth, and build a fulfilling career.
Simon is a business leader with experience in both private and public companies and in the US, UK, and Asian markets, and currently holds a portfolio of advisory and non-executive roles for several technology businesses, investment funds, and charities. Simon’s business career includes working for 12 years in the financial analytics industry, a decade of which he spent as CEO of Metapraxis, a finance technology company based in London and New York with a global blue-chip customer base.
About The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
Founded in 1919, The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants® (CIMA®) is the world’s leading and largest professional body of management accountants. As part of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, CIMA and its members and candidates operate in 188 countries and territories, working at the heart of business — in industry, commerce, the public sector and not-for-profit organisations. CIMA works closely with employers and sponsors leading-edge research, constantly updating its professional qualification and professional experience requirements to ensure it remains the employer’s choice when recruiting financially trained business leaders.
About AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
AICPA® & CIMA®, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), advance the global accounting and finance profession through our work on behalf of 597,000 AICPA and CIMA members, candidates and registrants in 188 countries and territories. Together, we are the worldwide leader on public and management accounting issues through advocacy, support for the CPA license, the CGMA designation and specialised credentials, professional development and thought leadership. We build trust by empowering our members, candidates and registrants with the knowledge and opportunities to be leaders in broadening prosperity for a more inclusive, sustainable
