About John Tomlinson
Specialist Disability Accountant and Founder of Disability Financial Clarity
CPA | CIMA | 40+ years' financial and operational experience
John Tomlinson is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) with more than 40 years of experience across Australia and the United Kingdom.
His career has focused on financial management, budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, operational analysis and organisational improvement within healthcare, government and complex service-delivery organisations.
Through Disability Financial Clarity, John applies this experience to the disability sector, helping providers and individuals understand financial performance, identify risks and make better-informed decisions.
His approach extends beyond traditional accounting: understand the numbers, identify what matters and explain it clearly.
Financial and operational experience
John began his career in health payroll before moving into financial and budget-management roles within government-funded services across England and Wales.
He later joined HM Prison Service, initially implementing a new accounting system at HMP Liverpool before progressing into senior regional financial-management roles.
John directly supported a region comprising 12 prisons with an annual budget exceeding £100 million, providing financial analysis and advice to senior operational management.
His work included budgeting, management reporting, cost analysis, financial controls, organisational restructuring and performance improvement.
Financial analysis developed by John contributed to a substantial performance-improvement program, demonstrating an approach that has remained central throughout his career: using financial information to understand operational performance and support better decisions.
After moving to Australia, John worked as Budget Manager for the Queensland Public Trustee, helping strengthen financial visibility and assisting operational managers to better understand and use financial information.
The Public Trustee environment also provided experience within an organisation supporting people requiring substituted financial decision-making.
John later joined Queensland Health as a Divisional Accountant, supporting nursing, allied health and other operational services.
His work included a detailed financial and operational review of a complex service involving more than 160 employees, analysing workforce costs, operating arrangements and opportunities to improve efficiency and financial sustainability.
Disability and NDIS experience
John has developed specialist disability-sector knowledge through professional work, provider experience and personal experience of disability.
In 2023, he completed the full NDIS provider audit process, strengthening his practical understanding of provider governance, financial systems, documentation and compliance requirements.
In 2025, John prepared a comprehensive business plan and three-year financial forecast for the proposed establishment of three Supported Independent Living (SIL) homes.
The work incorporated:
participant onboarding and occupancy assumptions
staffing structures and support ratios
award and employment costs
operating expenses and overheads
occupancy and vacancy scenarios
cash-flow requirements
financial-risk analysis
service sustainability
The business proposal and supporting financial forecasts were positively received during discussions with the Commonwealth Bank.
John continues to develop financial models and analytical tools that bring together participant funding, staffing requirements, roster costs, operating expenses and organisational overheads to help disability providers understand service-level financial sustainability.
Governance and committee experience
John is a member of the Finance and Infrastructure Committees of the Hope Island Resort Principal Body Corporate.
Hope Island Resort is a large and financially complex community, with annual administrative expenditure of approximately $7.3 million and a substantial infrastructure and sinking-fund program.
Through these committees, John contributes independent financial and operational analysis to support governance and decision-making.
For the past two years, John has also prepared the initial draft of the Principal Body Corporate’s response to the external auditor’s management letter, helping the committee understand the issues raised and develop clear, practical responses.
Personal understanding of disability
In 2021, John experienced a significant health event that resulted in an ongoing mobility-related disability.
This experience has given him a personal understanding of the financial, administrative and practical challenges that can accompany disability, injury and reduced work capacity.
It also strengthened his commitment to helping providers, participants and individuals obtain greater financial clarity and confidence when navigating complex systems and important decisions.
John combines this personal perspective with professional objectivity, accounting expertise and practical operational experience.
Qualifications and professional memberships
Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) — CPA Australia
Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) — Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
MAAT — Association of Accounting Technicians
Business Studies qualification
John's professional experience spans disability services, healthcare, government, complex service-delivery organisations, financial governance, management reporting, budgeting, forecasting and operational improvement.
Professional endorsement
“John is a highly competent and skilled Finance Manager and Management Accountant who has operated successfully at a senior level in a large, complex, operationally focused organisation.”
— Michael Spurr
Chief Executive, National Offender Management Service
Position held at the time of writing
John also received formal recognition for providing high-quality financial support, producing cost data and analysis that helped drive a sustained performance-improvement program.
John’s approach
John believes financial information should be clear, relevant and useful.
His approach combines financial and operational analysis to:
understand the issue behind the numbers
identify material risks and opportunities
explain complex information in plain language
develop practical and proportionate recommendations
support informed decision-making
John can work independently or alongside existing accountants, bookkeepers, executives, boards and other professional advisers.
Speak with John
If you need clearer financial information, independent analysis or specialist disability-sector financial support, request a complimentary 30-minute discussion with John.
There is no obligation to proceed. If further assistance is appropriate, John will provide a clearly defined proposal covering the scope, deliverables, timeframe and professional fees.
Request a complimentary 30-minute discussion
John Tomlinson, CPA, CIMA
Specialist Disability Accountant
Founder, Disability Financial Clarity
Phone: 0423 423 995
Email: JohnTomlinson@disabilityfinancialclarity.com.au