It is a privilege and an honour to become president of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). I am proud to have the opportunity to represent 15,000 members and students throughout the world in our shared commitment to making the most of the public services which it is our job to deliver.

I intend to focus on three themes. First, the importance of medium-term financial planning and the sustainability of public finances, with an emphasis on managing balance sheets and capital investment programmes, as well as revenue budgets.