I think it’s fair to say it’s been a varied career (so far! ). I should add that there is a bit of imposter syndrome here in that I am not a qualified accountant. However, I have been immersed in the industry for some considerable time. Let me explain – my early career was in the banking industry, a bit more about that to come, but my wife has her own accountancy business. Our girls clearly were influenced more by their mother as they are both qualified accountants and, incidentally, were assisted in their careers by Andrew and Becca at Vero.

My interest in company accounts and all things business came from the early part of my banking journey. Many years ago, I was asked to join the bank’s audit department, essentially touring the country, and establishing that the lending portfolio was a good risk, and that the organisation was not overly exposed in any sector or even geographic area. You’ll perhaps appreciate that this was well before centralised lending functions, and at a time when branches had local lending discretion.

I was encouraged to complete what was referred to as the bank exams – that did include accountancy! In my defence, I was subsequently made a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland and did ultimately obtain a BSc (Hons) in Financial Services.

Much to my mum’s horror (she worked in the bank before me), I resigned in the early 2000’s after 27 years of service. This was only after we had toured the country with the bank (one daughter was born in Glasgow, the other in Inverness) and I had enjoyed many years in business audit and the commercial banking division. I had been introduced to a local businessman, (chairman) in Aberdeen at various board meetings – he was involved in several local businesses, and I had been representing the bank. Eventually, he asked me to work with him and set up an HR consultancy and lead that start-up as MD. It wasn’t as mad as it sounds (although mum needed convincing….) as I had an HR professional with me, and the aforementioned chairman had invested in a similar business previously. It was an exciting 4- or 5-year period as we grew the business to around 40 staff, bought another consultancy, moved in to our own head office and bought out the chairman.

Somewhat ironically, I was enticed back into the banking sector just at the time of the financial crisis. This was in a development role for the corporate arm of that bank. I had 3 years of that and met some wonderful people – however, after the buzz of the previous role, the volume of new corporate deals was minimal. I made the mistake (I’ve made many over the years) and moved to a competing bank for more money. Same scenario, different letterhead.

Somewhat deflated and seeking a new challenge, I was introduced to one of the most inspiring people I’ve been fortunate to meet. Duncan Skinner, a fabulous accountant, was chairman of a local, manufacturing, social enterprise. This business had closed a few years previously when local council money was withdrawn, and they were looking for a new CEO. The request from Duncan left me with an easy decision – come and work with me and provide 40 or so disadvantaged people a secure future and “dignity through work”. The company made beds and mattresses and I started on 1 April 2015 – never a good date to start anything really! They had been established in 1843. I have to say I was nervous having never worked in manufacturing or the sector beforehand. However, Duncan was very supportive as a chairman and only after a difficult first year did things start to happen for us. We re-branded the company taking into account the Royal Warrant to the late Queen and set about producing a luxury brand of mattresses with the help of a supplier of natural materials. Indeed, we used them as our technical advisors. We popped our head above the parapet and went up-market – at a time when everyone else was racing to the bottom price wise. In due course, and with the extensive use of digital marketing, perhaps the first social enterprise to do this, we started to gain some success.

• Awarded Best Social Enterprise at the UK PwC awards.
• Export orders to China and South Korea.
• Articles in Vogue magazine, no less – a social enterprise in a deprived part of the city!
• A working relationship with Sir Rocco Forte and his luxury group of hotels.
• Perhaps best of all we were awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity in 2021.

Sadly, Duncan passed away earlier that year at the early age of 63 after a short illness. The award was entirely fitting in recognition of his support to the company.

I resigned later that year as it wasn’t quite the same for me thereafter.

I started life as a self-employed consultant in the months that followed and took up an interim role as CEO of another charity supporting drug and alcohol addiction in the SE of Scotland. Another rewarding and satisfying period.

Some ongoing non-executive work followed and a request from an agency in London to seek connections in the UK for a China based manufacturer of – yes, mattresses! That was an interesting exercise and lead to back into the sector again. Over the last couple of years, I’ve been helping an established UK brand name in the mattress industry export their product to Asia. They currently supply John Lewis, Next, M&S but hadn’t done much abroad.

I’ve recently taken up a position as Chief Operating Officer at a local charity here in Aberdeen. They provide support services to vulnerable people and incorporate medical support for cancer patients and other NHS type services. There is a commercial arm of the business seeking to rent out a state-of-the-art games hall and the further development of a 4.5-acre site incorporating a former school and outbuildings – all with the desire to ultimately support people with special needs.

Another varied role!

I have always been a people person and enjoy engaging with a variety of personalities. It may sound a bit of a cliché, but every day is different!

I did aspire to be an accountant as I sat within the banking industry. I have always enjoyed reading balance sheets and I’m always keen to see how businesses are faring.

Does that make me nosey?

I think, like many industries, accountancy will be subject to supposed enhancements with the introduction of AI. It’s hard to escape this but I think the sector will be people-led by necessity for many years to come. I hope so for the sake of my two girls and their careers! Business relationships are what really matter.

I’d like to think I am a self-starter, so I was never particularly phased by working from home. I do think service levels in the UK have dropped, perhaps some of this is directly down to the covid period.

During the pandemic, business travel was restricted of course, hence the opportunity from China referred to earlier. In many ways I’m grateful for that ironic introduction.

I think I am correct when I say that Google suggests accountancy as the most secure profession over the last decade or two. Both of my daughters started and trained within professional accountancy firms and that provided a wonderful grounding. It’s clearly a great career too but the variety of an industry career can be so varied and rewarding so my suggestion might be to go down that route.

Make sure you speak to the team at Vero first though!

Buy property in Dubai (my eldest girl and her husband are fortunate to live there which necessitates regular visits…..).

Seriously though, work hard, put in the hours and the rewards will come. Don’t be afraid to change sectors and grab an opportunity – you can always revert back to what you did before!

Still much to be done! My goal, and one I share with my wife, is to see our daughters financially secure. At the same time, we have many world locations we need to visit so perhaps I can retract that first bit…..?

I’m excited about my latest work project. If I can help another local charity improve in some small way, then that will be satisfying. Perhaps then, something approaching retirement maybe.

My ideal way of relaxing is to head out on a run with my fellow club members. I’ve been running 2 or 3 times each week for well over 20 years now, barring injury, and it’s something that I find beneficial when setting the world to rights.

A season ticket holder at Aberdeen FC – I’m not sure that is always relaxing though!

Our cocker spaniel, Belle, is wonderful and I do like a long walk with her, especially at a weekend.

Whilst in Paris on business in 2019, I was caught up in what I recognized as a money laundering exercise. I was offered Euro 300,000 in used notes if I were able to help clean many millions. Of course, I declined – a scary escapade and one for more detail over a coffee sometime!