ACCA Elects UK CFO Melanie Proffitt as New President, Vowing to Redefine Accountancy's Future

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the global professional body serving over 257,000 members and 530,000 future members across 180 countries, has elected Melanie Proffitt as its new President. A UK-based CFO who will step back from her executive role to lead the vast international organisation, Ms. Proffitt is a familiar face, having served on the ACCA Council since 2015.

Ms. Proffitt, currently the CFO of the Farncombe Estate—a group of award-winning hotels in the Cotswolds—will now steer the ACCA’s agenda, focusing on how the profession is being “redefined” in the 21st century. Her mandate centres on promoting the accessibility, flexibility, and dynamic opportunities a career in accountancy now offers worldwide.

A Strong Voice for Diversity and Opportunity

The appointment underscores the ACCA’s commitment to showcasing varied pathways to leadership. Having joined the ACCA Council in 2015 and served as both Vice President and Deputy President, Ms. Proffitt is a known advocate for the profession as a ‘career passport’—a qualification that allows members to work across diverse sectors and global markets.

She takes the helm during a time when the profession is actively evolving to meet demands for data fluency, ethical governance, and sustainability expertise.

“ACCA is redefining what accountancy looks like in the 21st century. From our newly redesigned qualification, to working with underrepresented communities and individuals, we are committed to showing how accountancy is a career that is fulfilling, dynamic and full of exciting opportunities,” said Melanie Proffitt, President of ACCA.

Her experience includes extensive work with global members, particularly in Africa and India, where she has championed the role of the ACCA Qualification in enabling women to achieve financial and personal independence, promoting diversity.

• Data Point: The ACCA has long championed inclusion, noting that women currently account for nearly 50% of its global membership, a figure that has steadily risen over the past decades, proving the profession is increasingly shedding outdated gender stereotypes.

Redefining the Qualification and the Profession

A key element of Ms. Proffitt’s presidency will be building on the ACCA’s newly redesigned qualification, set to be fully implemented in mid-2027. This overhaul is employers-driven and tech-integrated, specifically aimed at equipping future accountants with skills in:

• Digital Fluency and AI: Embedding technology skills throughout the syllabus.
• Sustainability and Ethics: Evolving the final exams to include a focus on Business & Sustainability Reporting.
• Strategic Leadership: Maintaining the flagship Strategic Business Leader exam.

This future-focused curriculum ensures that ACCA members remain essential strategic partners in business, moving beyond traditional compliance roles to become drivers of sustainable value.

A Global and Female-Led Council

Ms. Proffitt is part of a high-powered, all-female officer team for the second year running, demonstrating the ACCA’s success in promoting gender balance at the highest level:

Melanie Proffitt takes over from Ayla Majid, whose tenure highlighted the concept that with the ACCA, “there is no ceiling on achievement.” This legacy of championing talent and ambition, regardless of background, appears set to define the incoming president’s year in office.