CAREER HISTORY
January 2002 - to date
Established own consultancy business in area of business vision and strategy, including the development of a virtual accounting practice and business related websites.
January 1982 - December 2001
Equity partner in Kidsons, which became HLB Kidsons, who recently merged to become Baker Tilly
Notable achievements:
Merged own Glasgow practice with Kidsons in 1982.
Licensed insolvency practitioner who has over the years dealt with in excess of 3000 cases, which include all types of insolvency appointment.
As managing partner in Scotland, grew practice to be sixth largest in Scotland in the early nineties with circa £8.0m turnover, 18 partners and over 200 staff.
Relocated to Manchester in 1994 to take over as North region managing partner. Oversaw growth of practice from £9.0m to over £18.0m during the period to 1999. Responsible for over 400 staff.
Fronted numerous mergers and takeovers on behalf of the firm.
Consulted by government about revision of Scottish insolvency law and author of various submissions in that regard.
Have made numerous presentations to all manner of audiences on a wide range of topics including various papers to international accounting audiences in Canada, America, Australia, Hong Kong, and various countries in Europe.
Experienced and trained in media communications.
Architect of the firm’s profit sharing method and largely responsible for driving change from local profit sharing to a fully integrated national profit sharing system.
A highly IT literate individual who was responsible for IT throughout the firm, initially solely and then through IT professionals until 1997. All offices networked and linked by e-mail since 1988 and 1991 respectively. Remained a member of the firm’s IT steering group until retirement.
Project sponsor for delivery of a new communications infrastructure to the firm to enable high-speed datalinks between all offices and to the outside world including clients and others.
Responsible for establishing the firm’s award winning World Wide Web site which is now entering its fourth iteration. Kidsons were the first UK major accounting firm to have such a site.
Responsible for originating ideas as to how the firm would use e-commerce and establishing a group to implement them. One of the first major accounting firms to be actively trading in this way.
Heavily involved in the design and delivery of the firm’s last two practice management and accounting systems. The first was in operation from 1986 until 1992 and the second was used until replaced on merger with Baker Tilly in April 2002.
Involved professionally in various company doctor and corporate turnaround assignments.
Started own practice in Glasgow
Grew from zero to circa £250k within two years
First PC delivered in December 1979 and used for client payrolls, book-keeping, etc.
Merged with Kidsons on 1 January 1982
1973 - 1979
Held various jobs in commerce
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland - admitted 1973
Fellow of the Society of Practitioners of Insolvency
Accredited Mindshop facilitator