Jeffrey Thomson
Jeffrey C. Thomson, CMA, CSCA, CAE, is president and CEO of IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants). Since assuming this position in 2008, Thomson has led the development of a strategy resulting in IMA becoming one of the fastest-growing accounting associations in the world, with double-digit growth in its CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) program over the past five years. In January 2018, IMA crossed the 100,000-member mark for the first time in the organization’s history.
During his previous position as IMA’s vice president of research, Thomson conducted research studies, authored numerous articles and a book, delivered dozens of presentations, and provided testimony to the U.S. Congress in the areas of risk management, internal controls, and corporate governance. He served as a COSO board member from 2006 to December 2011, during a period when COSO experienced growth in influential thought-leader pieces and launched the internal controls refresh initiative. In 2019 Thomson was named Lead Director of the COSO Board.
Prior to joining IMA, Thomson worked at AT&T for more than two decades, where he served in various financial, strategic, and operational roles. One of these roles included serving as the strategic CFO for an $18 billion business unit.
Thomson was honored by Accounting Today by being included in the publication’s annual “Top 100 Most Influential People List” for the last 11 years. He was also named by Trust Across America as one of the “Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior” for eight straight years and was honored with the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. The Accountant/International Accounting Bulletin recognized Thomson in its Global Accountancy Power 50 list of leading influencers and named IMA “Professional Body of the Year” in 2017 and 2018.
Session description:
Adapting to the New Normal of Disruption and Chaos
Turbulence, disruption, and even chaos – from COVID-19, to non-traditional competition, to rapid-fire technology transformation, the finance and accounting profession is facing enormous challenges in the “new normal”. How do students entering the profession, along with current professionals, cope with these enormous challenges and actually increase influence and relevance to their organizations and society? Jeff Thomson will share his real world vision from the lens of both a CEO and a CFO in this experiential session.
