The Footnotes Analyst provides high quality articles and valuation models that give insights into IFRS and US GAAP accounting and the impact of financial reporting on investment decisions. The blog is aimed at equity investors and analysts and is widely read and respected by investors, and others with an interest in equity analysis.

After completing my term as a board member I continued to work for the IASB in an advisory capacity during the period IFRS 17 on Insurance accounting was finalised. I now take on occasional assignments in areas with which I have been primarily involved during my career - accounting standard setting, equity analysis and education and training. However, most of my working time is spent writing the The Footnotes Analyst blog, which aims to inform investors on financial reporting and equity analysis.

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is responsible for setting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). I served as a board member, completing a 10 year term in July 2017. I worked on and contributed to the development of accounting standards for a wide range of topics and a number of major standards were completed during my term, including those for insurance contracts, financial instruments, revenue recognition and leasing. I had particular involvement in the IASB's investor engagement programme, which aims to educate investors and analysts about relevant accounting changes and obtain input from the investment community for the standard setting process.Prior to becoming a board member in 2007 I had been a member of the IASB's analyst and investor advisory group and IASB committees related to the development of IFRS 2 Share Based Payments and performance reporting.

I was the head of a global team in UBS investment research which provided analysis and advice on accounting, equity analysis and equity valuation, both to institutional investor clients and to UBS investment banking professionals. Published research reports covered a wide range of issues, such as the valuation of internet companies, the implications of pension liabilities for equity analysis and how accounting changes impact investment research. During this time the team won many awards for valuation and accounting research in European Excel and Institutional Investor polls. Additionally, I was a member of the UBS equity research global investment recommendations committee and the UBS UK pension fund investment committee. During this period I was a member of several external advisory groups related to accounting and investment analysis, including a number at the IASB, the ICAEW financial reporting committee, a UK committee on accounting for pension obligations and the Corporate Reporting User Forum.

Having left investment banking in 1987 I spent the following 10 years running my own accounting and financial analysis training business. I provided courses for many investment banks and other financial institutions, including Morgan Stanley, SG Warburg, Lloyds of London, Schroders and UBS, both independently and for other training organisations. I also taught analysts and accountants taking their professional examinations. My working relationship with UBS developed to include consulting services related to a project on equity valuation methodology, which in 1997 led to me joining UBS investment bank as an analyst on a full time basis.

After initially studying electronic engineering at University College London I turned to accountancy and joined a small audit firm, with a subsequent move to Baker Rooke (now RSM International). During this time I studied for the ACCA accountancy qualification, achieving the distinction of coming in the top 3 for each stage of these professional examinations. I then taught financial management to accountancy students while studying for a masters degree in Accounting and Finance at the London School of Economics. After graduating in 1985 I joined J Henry Schroder Wagg & Co., a London based merchant bank (now part of Citigroup) where I was a corporate finance executive working on a range of investment banking transactions.