Charles Tilley  | 

Never before has the global business environment been more challenging. In the first part of the Gateway’s Spotlight on Professional Accountants series, Charles Tilley, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), discusses how professional accountants help businesses remain sustainable by managing risk, providing oversight, improving the integrity of data, and much more. Ultimately, professional accountants in business play a critical role in creating trust in their organizations. 
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Charles Tilley

Charles Tilley is the former CEO of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). Prior to that role at the IIRC, Mr. Tilley served as Chair of its technical task force and Senior Advisor to the IIRC Board Chair. Mr. Tilley also served as Chair of the IFAC Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee 2014-2019.

Following his retirement as the Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in 2016, Mr. Tilley is now the Executive Chairman of the CGMA Research Foundation. As Chief Executive of CIMA since 2001, he significantly raised CIMA’s profile and brand, including developing and implementing a stakeholder-centric strategy resulting in impressive levels of member and student growth.

A prominent advocate for global reform of corporate reporting, and a commentator on a wide range of business issues, at CIMA Mr. Tilley has led advocacy to effect change on finance, governance, and accountancy issues with government, regulators, standard setters, and the World Bank, among other organizations. He continues to direct CIMA’s thought leadership activity, focused on governance, the development of effective external and internal reporting, performance management, and developments in the finance function. Under his leadership, CIMA formed a joint venture with the American Institute of CPAs to establish the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation.

He also sits on the UK Financial Reporting Council’s Lab Steering Group and is a council member of the Prince of Wales’ Accounting for Sustainability. Currently, he is Deputy Chairman of Great Ormond Street Hospital. Previously, between 2008 and 2015, he held various non-executive positions at the Ipswich Building Society.

Prior to joining CIMA, Mr. Tilley spent fourteen years at KPMG, becoming a partner in 1986. Subsequently, he held senior positions as Group Finance Director of Investment Banks at Hambros plc and Granville Baird.

Mr. Tilley was awarded an OBE for his services to the economy in the New Year’s Honours, 2016.