I taught a number of subjects at all three levels of the CA qualification, including Finance, Auditing, Business Management, Ethics and integrated business case studies to large and small classes. My teaching received consistently positive feedback and always exceeded the required level.I was the subject controller for the first year Finance course, with responsibility for:• Writing material, including notes, slides, study & revision questions, mock exams and online material• Scheduling teaching of Finance in Scotland, London and Jersey• Researching material for inclusion in courses and exams and setting the syllabus for courses• Dealing with queries from client firms and studentsAs with most of the work I did it was important that work is carried out on schedule and to a high standard. I ensured that all my deadlines were met, managing other staff where necessary.I was the examiner for the Business Management course. I ensured that the course was examined with sufficient rigour and technical expertise and required pass rates were consistently achieved.I also reviewed and created new material for other courses, including a personal finance module which I updated and revised to ensure it reflected legislation and practice.I managed the relationships with a number of clients, including RBS, Standard Life, Audit Scotland and Henderson Loggie. I made those relationships productive for the firms and for ICAS.I chaired the ICAS Defined Contribution Pension Scheme Governance Committee. I liaised with the management team at ICAS and the scheme’s external advisers to ensure that investment objectives were met and that the scheme met the needs of members.I undertook other non-routine work at a high level within ICAS. For example, one project involved rewriting the first year finance course to include a greater emphasis on Financial Services and Insurance material, reflecting the increased importance of this area for clients and students.

I developed and delivered training courses, teaching mainly technical material. I was the top rated trainer at CIPFA Scotland in my time there.I researched and presented technical papers to external interest groups. For example, I was part of a team that briefed the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee on pensions and the issues raised by pensions accounting.I researched and wrote responses to consultation papers on matters of public financial management produced by the Scottish Government and to technical queries from CIPFA members to a high standard.I wrote articles and features for publication for in-house CIPFA magazines and Holyrood Magazine, for both technical and non-technical readers.

I managed audits of Central Government bodies, such as the Scottish Funding Councils and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, with budgets of more than £1,250 million. I communicated audit findings, with follow-up to ensure clients understood these and acted on them.I successfully managed and maintained relationships with a major central government client throughout a contentious audit that resulted in an adverse opinion.I identified and addressed staff training and development needs. For example, I coached staff members with no public sector experience to ensure completion of their audit fieldwork.