Chris Docherty spent 13 years at big4 firm, EY, achieving Audit Partner after 12 years. However, after only a year in post, he left the firm and Audit to pursue an opportunity as a Partner in the global accounting and advisory business, CFGI, as their lead for Scotland and additional UK Partner.

We discuss his journey to Partner at EY and CFGI as well as topics such as the stigma around being an ACCA student, appraisals and culture and his mindset when facing challenges and barriers.

It was interesting to hear from someone who decided to take a different path so soon after becoming a Partner rather than the common route of being a Partner for a couple of decades and then going into industry as a CFO for example. It just shows how valuable working in Audit and professional services is!

OUTLINE OF TIMINGS

00:00-6:23: Introduction and how the journey into Audit and Accounting started

6:24- 10:37: Training in the big four via the ACCA route and the perceived stigma around being an ACCA student

10:38-14:16: His journey to Partner including secondments and opportunities that created loyalty

14:16-15:15: What was enjoyable about working in Audit as he progressed in EY

15:15-18:07: What helped Chris make that extra step to Partner and why did he stay in Audit rather than go into industry

18:08-20:15: How should appraisals be done.

20:16-25:08: Making sacrifices whilst working in big4 audit and studying to be an Accountant

25:08-30:01: Why did Chris leave EY when he hadn’t been Partner for long?

30:02-32:56: What does his current role as Partner at CFGI involve?

32:57-35:36: Personal and professional goals for the next 12 months

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Bruce Cartwright is currently the CEO of ICAS and had previously spent 30 years in big4 restructuring with many of those as a Partner.

We discuss the importance of ethics, especially as an Accountant and how to respond if faced with pressure to act unethically. Other topics include why and what he enjoyed about working in restructuring and professional services including some interesting stories.

This is a really interesting episode filled with lots of stories, insights and advice.

OUTLINE OF TIMINGS

00:00-6:28:Introduction, upbringing and starting a career in Accounting

6:28-12:00: The world of restructuring as a young person and “Cartwright says he HOPES people will get home for Christmas”

12:00-17:11: Why did he stay in professional services and restructuring for 30 years? (and some chat about debits and credits!)

17:12-19:26: Being the CEO of ICAS.

19:27-23:32: “Ethical Leadership since 1854”. The strategy, vision and purpose of ICAS.

23:32-26:58: The importance of ethics and trust is vitally important. Should Accountants be TESTED on ethics post-qualifying?

26:58-39:10: Pressure on Accountants to act unethically and what to do, including his own experience.

39:10-42:06: Professional and personal goals for the next 12 months

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As CEO of Entrepreneurial Scotland, Sean discusses his current role and the organisation’s flagship programme designed to find, grow and connect students with the ambition and potential of becoming future leaders for Scotland, called The Saltire Scholar Programme.

We discuss his career from Sales and working for the likes of Red Bull to Accounting & Finance where he trained in the big four before moving into industry. Other topics include the challenge of being consumed by a job you are passionate about, managing your career and finding the best leaders of tomorrow.

This podcast is for anyone looking to train as a chartered accountant, for anyone keen to hear about life in professional services and for senior leaders of any business.

OUTLINE OF TIMINGS

00:00-6:38: Introduction. Sean’s upbringing and early career from Sales to Accounting.

6:39-9:04: Why he moved from sales to studying as a chartered accountant in his early 30’s.

9:05-12:09: How sales have helped his career and how having the chartered accountant status has helped.

12:10-15:39: Motivations for making career moves. What’s important to us should drive our decision-making.

15:40-19:51: What does being a senior leader in professional services require from your life?

19:52-23:53: Actively managing your career with opportunities to learn and develop as a leader.

23:54-31:44: The demands and responsibilities of his current role and how he needs to be better at separating work and personal life.

31:45-33:27: The importance of having a break and rest from work.

33:28-39:28: The Saltire Scholar Scholar Programme – finding the best young talent and tomorrow’s future leaders.

39:29-42:10: Professional and personal goals for the next 12 months.

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With over 22 years of experience in Tax and a current Tax Partner, Alex talks about how growing up in a family of self-employed entrepreneurial people has helped her enjoy working as a private client tax advisor but also how it has helped her be an effective advisor to clients.

Other topics discussed include how some difficult life changes for Alex have impacted her career, making her a better leader and professional to colleagues and clients.

This podcast is for anyone looking to improve their advisory skills to clients in any discipline but also for those looking for inspiration on how to respond to difficult changes in life.

Outline of timings:

00:00-01:09: TPS Intro

01:55-05:42: Introduction to Alex and her career in private client tax. Differences and similarities between professional services firms.

05:43-07:52: The enjoyment of working as an advisor to clients and the importance of relationships.

07:53-12:03: From Farmer’s daughter to strategic tax advisor.

12:04-15:03: Juggling life and work. Parenthood and being productive with our time.

15:04-17:27: Working in Private Client Tax when the economy is struggling.

17:28-: Being resilient in life and at work. How big changes in life impacted Alex and how she responded to them personally and as a professional.

21:00-25:30: Being authentic at work, to your clients and other tips on being an effective tax advisor.

25:31-28:18: Why it’s never been easier to win new business.

28:19-33:12: Income tax increases in Scotland in April 2024, and the challenge for talent.

33:13-35:22: AI/Tech in professional services but why relationships between people will never die.

35:23-38:11: Personal and professional goals for the next 12 months.

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Allan Dowie is a Partner in the private equity firm he co-founded called N4 Partners. In his career, he has held board positions including CFO and CEO across a variety of sectors and he has also worked in professional services and consulting.

Allan talks about his entrepreneurial ventures, the life plan he set out to achieve early on in his 20s, the opportunity to upskill whilst working in professional services, and how running the Marathon Des Sables - a distance of 6 marathons in 6 days in the Sahara Desert – helps him achieve in business.

Other topics discussed include the private equity trend in professional services and what 2024 might look like for businesses in Scotland.

OUTLINE OF TIMINGS

00:00-6:45: What type of firms N4 invests in.

6:46-8:39: How does 2024 look for businesses in Scotland. Recruitment challenges in Scotland.

8:40-13:38: Entrepreneurship in Allan’s life through multiple business ventures and applying his mindset to his career.

13:39-17:16: The Art of Thinking Big. Planning out his career from his early 20s to get into senior leadership roles and the sacrifices along the way.

17:17-19:24: The importance of networking and having a network.

19:25-23:02: Choosing to gain experience in professional services to add value to his skillset and knowledge, ultimately helping him in his career.

23:03-25:55: Why running the Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara Desert is the best thing he has ever done for his mental mindset.

25:56-30:01: What makes a good leader?

30:02-32:02: The different paths to work in Private Equity.

32:03-34:52: Why Private Equity investment in professional services will continue.

34:53-37:19: Professional and personal goals for the next 12 months.

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James Taylor is the CFO of Rangers Football Club. His first year at the club has so far included a change of Football Manager and a trophy for the Men’s team with a lot more to play for before the season ends.

However in this episode, we explore more off-the-pitch aspects such as his career goal to be a CFO in the world of sport, why finance professionals should understand marketing and commercialism, and the Rangers 2030 strategy centered around the club’s biggest and most important stakeholder group, the supporters.

This episode is not only for sports fans but is also for aspiring finance professionals. Enjoy!

OUTLINE OF TIMINGS

0:00-6:11: Introduction and family influence on wanting to work in the world of sport.

6:12-12:11: From professional services to Finance. Learning how to communicate financial performance to different audiences.

12:12-16:27: Working in Product control, living in Singapore, and adapting to new surroundings (*apologies for the doors banging in the background but hospitality staff were preparing for the match that evening*)

16:28-18:16: Upskilling in areas of strategy and commercial finance to prepare for working in sport. Learning how to build the revenue line as a finance professional. Successful commercial performance at Rangers in recent years.

18:17-26:45: Taking the leap to that first CFO role and building strong trustworthy relationships with senior leadership including at Rangers.

26:46-28:55: Moving into hospitality and then the world of sport. 

28:56-32:24: What aspiring CFO’s should think about upskilling in and gaining experience of.

32:25-37:02: The importance of a culture of honesty and transparency especially with stadiums full of supporters. Working on building a successful winning Rangers.

37:03-39:53: Managing working capital successfully, making Rangers more profitable, and providing the best possible product on and off the football pitch.

39:54-42:18: The excitement of working at Rangers and everything about working in elite-level sport. The impact of the new Men’s Manager (Clement).

42:19-44:34: Momentum. Goals for James and the Finance team to make tangible positive differences to the club.

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Colin has an Internal Audit career of over 20 years across professional services and different industries where he has progressed into senior leadership roles.

In this episode, Colin talks about how his external audit training helped him transition into Internal Audit, how important it is to have personal resilience especially when work can feel isolating, and the benefit of being part of a large network such as the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors.

Other topics discussed include using his governance skills to help mentor a football club and the challenges the profession is facing.

Outline of Timings:

00:00-5:51: Introduction and transitioning from external audit to internal audit

5:52-8:38: Differences between Internal audit in professional services and in industry

8:39-12:02: How to deal with the feeling of isolation in internal audit

12:03-14:28: Having personal resilience and the benefits of being part of a large network such as the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors

14:29-20:50: Added responsibilities of being in a senior leadership role and facing different challenges

20:51-22:23: How to implement change including when there might be resistance 

22:24-31:!6: The impact of changes in the internal audit landscape and why internal audit can offer a great career

31:17-41:01: Skills learned from mentoring a football club and mentoring chartered accountants with ICAS and goals for the next 12 months

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As an Audit Partner with over 17 years of experience in external Audit, James discusses what he enjoys about working in the profession that has kept him from exploring non-audit roles after qualifying as a chartered accountant.

Other topics discussed include the mindset needed for Partnership or owning your own business, the importance of effective networking, an approach to learning soft skills from senior leaders, and changes in Audit and wider professional services through technology and private equity.

This episode is for Auditors, aspiring professionals, and anyone else looking for words of wisdom to help with their career.

Outline of timings:

0:00-6:00: Introduction and career journey

6:00-8:44: What is enjoyable about working in Audit

8:45-10:28: Learning soft skills alongside technical knowledge and application from senior leaders

10:29-13:06: Knowing that Partnership was where he wanted to get to

13:07-14:45: Professional services is a fantastic industry to gain unique exposure to many senior people to learn from

14:46-20:40: The mindset of being a Partner in professional services or as an owner of a business

20:41-23:51: Support network when making the step into Partnership

23:52-29:01: Balancing work and life in professional services

29:02-32:19: Mental health and the importance of staying fit and healthy

32:20-35:09: Going above and beyond to exceed expectations

35:10-40:14: The importance of effective networking

40:15-44:00: Improving relationships that might not have started in the best way

44:01-48:58: Changes to Audit and professional services through technology and private equity

49:00-51:15: Goals in his work and life over the next 12 months

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