Mapley has extensive financial and operational leadership experience from a range of senior roles in local and central government, including finance director at the Home Office, HM Courts Service and the Legal Aid Agency. He originally trained at Big Four audit firm, PwC, where he spent 10 years before moving into the public sector. 

Whiteman is due to retire shortly after 10 years leading CIPFA and will work closely with Mapley during the transition period to ensure a seamless handover of responsibilities.

Mapley’s appointment comes as the public sector faces huge challenges with an increasing number of local authorities facing significant financial difficulties and an unprecedented backlog in audits, with more than 90% of annual accounts not signed off.

For some time, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has been calling for an overhaul of the local government finance model and action to address short-term funding problems.

Caroline Rassell, CIPFA president and member of the nominations committee announced Owen’s appointment after an open and extensive recruitment process and the appointment was confirmed by CIPFA council.

The role attracted a strong pool of candidates, with Owen the outstanding choice to take up the role of chief executive.

Rassell said: ‘The panel was impressed by his extensive experience in central and local government, and believe he is the right leader to take over the reins at CIPFA during this exciting period to support our members and our public services.

Mapley will take over the role with the public finance sector facing huge challenges and an increasing number of local authorities going into effective bankruptcy section after issuing section 114 notices with multimillion deficits at councils like Birmingham, Woking and Croydon.

Research by Grant Thornton, one of the main auditors of local authorities, has warned that 40% of councils could go into section 114 status within five years.

Mapley said: ‘CIPFA plays a vital role at the heart of public service financial management both in this country and globally. I look forward to joining CIPFA to lead its work to pursue sustainable, confident and resilient public services, ensuring public money is well managed for the benefit of us all.’

Whiteman has been head of CIPFA for the last decade and has steered the institute through a difficult period for public finance.

Rassell said: ‘I would also like to thank Rob Whiteman again for his dedication and excellent leadership of the Institute over the last 10 years. His knowledge of public finance and accountancy and his advocacy will be missed by all of us who have had the pleasure of working with him and the during his tenure. I know that he is leaving CIPFA in a much stronger position than when he took on the role.’

Whiteman said: ‘It has been a huge privilege to lead CIPFA over the last decade and I am proud to leave a modern and effective organisation with a sound financial platform and strong policy voice that has fused our charitable objectives with commercial growth.’