16th Annual Local Authority Treasurers Investment Forum & FDs’ Summit 2024

Chris Naylor joined Inner Circle Consulting after nearly seven years as the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to focus on “reimagining public services and connecting them fully to the people who need them”. Under his leadership the Council focused on inclusive growth, prevention, civic engagement and public participation and equalities. In 2020 Chris was named Municipal Journal’s Chief Executive of the Year.

He joined Barking and Dagenham from the London Borough of Barnet where he was Chief Operating Officer. Previously he was Corporate Director of Resources in Tower Hamlets and Director of Resident Services at Hammersmith and Fulham.

Chris is a Chartered Accountant and has a degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge, specialising in contemporary social theory. Chris was born and brought up in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where he was educated at Wickersley comprehensive school.

Tony Travers is a professor in the LSE’s Government Department and an assistant dean in the LSE’s School of Public Policy.  Research interests include public finance, urban politics and London government.  He has been an advisor to a number of UK Parliamentary committees. 

He was a Senior Associate of the Kings Fund from 1999 to 2004, and also a member of the Arts Council’s Touring Panel during the late 1990s.  From 1992 to 1997, he was a member of the Audit Commission.   He was a member of the Urban Task Force Working Group on Finance.

He is a research board member of the Centre for Cities and a board member of the New Local Government Network. He is an Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy.  He chaired the London Finance Commission (2012-13 and again in 2016-17) and was a member of the City Growth Commission (2013-14).

He chaired an independent commission examining local government finance in Wales and the London Finance Commission (2014 and 2017).  He was co-chair of the King’s Commission on London.    

He has published a number of books on cities and government, including Failure in British Government The Politics of the Poll Tax (with David Butler and Andrew Adonis), Paying for Health, Education and Housing   How does the Centre Pull the Purse Strings (with Howard Glennerster and John Hills) and The Politics of London: Governing the Ungovernable City.  Most recently, he published London’s Boroughs at 50.

Carol is currently the Executive Director, Finance at Birmingham City Council after completing a spell as a Commissioner at Woking Borough Council and her year as CIPFA President.

She was previously the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer at Manchester City Council . As well as being the S151 officer, she had responsibility for the Corporate Core and for driving a number of priorities such as the leading on the Council’s Zero Carbon Action Plan and as SRO for The Factory and Town Hall projects. Her previous experience in Manchester has included her role as Deputy City Treasurer responsible for Finance and Performance and ICT as well as being a member of the Health and Social Care Devolution Team, as Assistant Chief Executive overseeing Finance and Performance and as the Assistant Director of Finance and Commissioning for Social Services.

She is CIPFA qualified and has a diploma in management. Carol has a wealth of experience in financial management, governance and assurance and fulfilling trustee roles. 

Since his appointment in 2017 he has established the Northern Powerhouse Partnership as the business led organisation which convenes the North together. From having made the case consistently for both HS2 to the North alongside Northern Powerhouse Rail, to challenging for a better deal for the most disadvantaged from the education system, his team are focused on how government, business and partners can drive the North’s ambitions. Before joining the Partnership, he worked in senior research and policy roles in policing and financial services, and as a former senior local government figure in Newcastle upon Tyne remains a commentator on regional and wider industrial policy.

Since 2020 he has also served as a member of the Royal Society Science, Industry and Translation Committee, as well as this year being appointed to the Court of Newcastle University.

Sidhant is responsible for managing CCLA’s three deposit and money market funds.

Having graduated from King’s College London in 2013 with a BSc in Maths & Computer Science (joint honours), Sidhant worked in the consulting industry focussing on wealth and asset management clients for six years. Sidhant then joined CCLA in 2019 and specialised as a fund manager within Cash and Money Markets team.

Sidhant holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Investment Management Certificate (IMC) qualifications. Outside of work he is a Governor for Foster’s Primary School in Bexleyheath.

Debbie Cunningham is Chief Investment Officer of Global Liquidity Markets. She joined Federated Hermes in 1981 as a performance analyst and has more than 30 years of investment experience. Since 1990 she has been a portfolio manager for all government and prime liquidity products. In 1994 she took over the management of the taxable liquidity group. In addition to the domestic taxable liquidity portfolios, Debbie also oversees the management of the domestic tax-exempt liquidity portfolios, as well as the offshore liquidity products. She is a current member of the CFA Society of Pittsburgh and previously held the title of Director and President.

Kelly is responsible for managing relationships with our clients.

Kelly joined CCLA in 2019 after 16 years finance and accountancy experience attained in both public and private sector. Kelly is a chartered accountant by background and her role prior to joining CCLA was Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) of a District Council in Local Government. Kelly has held a number of senior roles within local government and private sector and has a wide range of experience, managing finance, procurement and property amongst other services.

Kelly is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and is currently a member of the National CIPFA Council as well as involved with volunteer roles in her home base of the Midlands.

Luke is CIO at the Greater London Authority, where his team oversees financing major infrastructure investments, corporate treasury, collective investment arrangements for the GLA and its partners, and pensions policy. As part of that role, he is the managing director of London Treasury Limited, the GLA’s regulated asset management subsidiary. He splits his time between City Hall and the board of the Pension SuperFund, a consolidator of corporate DB schemes, which he co-founded and launched in 2018.

He has worked in pensions and asset and liability management since 2005 and as Chief Finance and Risk Officer of the London Pension Fund Authority from 2013-15, played a leading role in spearheading the consolidation of Local Government Pension Schemes through the creation of LPP, the first pooled LGPS vehicle.

Luke is an active volunteer in public finance, currently Vice Chairman of CIPFA’s Capital and Treasury Management Panel, which drafts statutory prudential guidance for the public services and a member the Public Sector Deposit Fund’s Advisory Board. He is a former member of the Bank of England’s Money Markets Committee. Outside of finance, he is a Senior Judge at the International Wine Challenge and an investor, board member and occasional gymnastics coach at CFLDN, the East London gym that brought CrossFit to Europe. His questionable fashion choices include the frequent wearing of bow-ties.

David joined Arlingclose 2010 and holds the Association of Corporate Treasurers Diploma in Treasury Management. David is a director of Arlingclose and responsible for client advisory services, he also heads up the debt management team, with an emphasis on the formulation and implementation of funding strategies. Current projects include managing iDealTrade.net, renegotiating long-term loans and developing alternative funding products with a variety of financial institutions. David also regularly delivers training for finance teams and Elected Members, covering debt and investment risk management and the local government finance regulatory framework. David has been providing treasury management consultancy services to public sector clients since 1997. He was Assistant Director at Butlers Treasury Consultancy, a division of ICAP plc, where he managed several client accounts and was a regular speaker at training events and seminars on treasury management issues.

Mark joined West Midlands Combined Authority as Lead Treasury Accountant in 2020 and is responsible for all aspects of the Authority’s treasury management activities including an investment portfolio in excess of £400m. He has over 25 years Local Authority finance experience and, in addition to treasury work, has a background in capital accounting and the Housing Revenue Account. Mark is a member of CIPFA’s TIS Online Treasury Management Editorial Board, reviewing and writing articles for the website and has contributed blogs to Room 151. He has also participated in panel discussions at several treasury and housing finance events.

Innes is Principal Treasury and Banking Manager for the City of Edinburgh Council. Prior to his appointment as Treasury Manager, he was head of the back office for Lothian Pension Fund. He has also been seconded to Lothian Pension Fund as Portfolio Manager responsible for Bonds and other Credit opportunities. From 2007 to 2017, he was Chair of CIPFA’s Scottish Treasury Management Forum, and a member of CIPFA’s Capital and Treasury Management Panel. He has also been a Trustee of a private sector Pension Fund. Innes’ qualifications include an honours degree in IT from St. Andrews University, the PMI qualification in Pension Trusteeship, and the CIPFA / ACT Certificate in International Treasury Management – Public Finance.  He won the LGC Investment Officer of the Year for the UK Award in 2010.

Nemashe Sivayogan is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Nemashe is currently working as Head of Treasury and Pensions at the London Borough of Merton. Before Merton, she worked at the LB of Lambeth where she gained her technical knowledge and skills. Nemashe has 18 years of Local Government experience, with significant knowledge in LGPS.

Jack co-manages Artemis’ ‘global high yield bond’ strategy, ‘high income’ strategy and ‘target return bond’ strategy, plus the bond element of Artemis‘ ‘monthly distribution‘ strategy. Jack joined Artemis in June 2019 from Aegon Asset Management , where since 2016 he co-managed a range of high yield bond funds and was involved in the management of the Strategic Bond strategy. Before that, he was an investment analyst at Standard Life Investments. Jack began his career as an economist at Cambridge Econometrics after graduating from Trinity College Dublin with a first-class honours degree in economics. He is a CFA charterholder.

Daniel Cotti currently advises Munix Municipal Exchange the Cash and Debt Platform bringing together Public Sector , Banks , NBFI’s including Asset managers & Pension funds, & Corporates to provide short term liquidity & long-term finance with tenors from overnight up to 50 years

He has 35+ years of experience working in leading Trade & Treasury Management positions with global P&L responsibilities for Citibank, ABN AMRO, RBS and JPMorgan.

In addition,10+ years Trade Finance Fintech space gained while at Marco Polo Network , Bolero , GLEIF & Munix. Acquiring deep subject matter expertise in digitalization , using new technologies, new business models & new legal frameworks. Daniel has a large network of trade experts around the globe & engages with them to provide bespoke  consultancy solutions in the digital trade space. 

Over the years Daniel has been actively involved with the major industry associations like ICC, SWIFT, BAFT, WTO etc.  most recently Instrumental of the  launch the new Trade Standards Body of the ICC, Digital Standards Initiative.

Tim Seagrave is group finance lead for capital & treasury management at Manchester City Council. An economics graduate, Tim began his local authority finance career at Newcastle City Council, and moved back to his birthplace to join Manchester City Council in 2009. He has experience in directorate finance as well as corporate, including working on the city council’s response to local authority funding settlements and leading on the early stages of business rates reform for the city. Tim moved onto treasury management in 2010, and during his time with the treasury team he has managed the Council’s debt and investment portfolios and overseen the HRA debt settlement, including repayment of LOBOs. Since 2014 Tim has also led the team responsible for the financial management of the Council’s capital programme, from project inception through to accounting for schemes, and has led on the development of a new capital approval process. A CIPFA member, Tim attends CIPFA’s Better Governance Forum.

Tim Chapple is the Treasury Manager at Oxfordshire County Council. Since qualifying as an accountant in 2008, he has spent the majority of his career as the principal officer in Treasury Management roles, with brief interludes in Pension Fund Investments and Capital Accounting. Having worked for both Oxfordshire and Warwickshire County Councils, he also has several years’ experience of working in the private sector as the Financial Controller of an Oxford University science spin off venture.

Mark joined West Midlands Combined Authority as Lead Treasury Accountant in 2020 and is responsible for all aspects of the Authority’s treasury management activities including an investment portfolio in excess of £400m. He has over 25 years Local Authority finance experience and, in addition to treasury work, has a background in capital accounting and the Housing Revenue Account. Mark is a member of CIPFA’s TIS Online Treasury Management Editorial Board, reviewing and writing articles for the website and has contributed blogs to Room 151. He has also participated in panel discussions at several treasury and housing finance events.

Dan Bates is a finance specialist at LG Improve. He leads LG Improve’s Financial Resilience function, enabling councils to adapt to a leaner, more outcomes focused way of working.   Working with all types of authorities on financing and funding to modernise financial management, outcomes-based budgeting and well-being and social value. 

Christine Golding is the Chief Accountant at Essex County Council.  Christine has a spent a significant proportion of her career working in local government corporate finance roles, with a particular focus on technical accounting and treasury management.  As her job title implies, she currently leads on all aspects of Essex County Council’s financial / technical accounting (including production of the Council’s statutory financial accounts and leading engagement with the Council’s external auditor).  However, she also has responsibility for the Council’s treasury management activities and for ensuring compliance with the prudential framework.

Nazmin Miah, Director at Link Treasury Services. After graduating with a BA Hons in Business Finance she joined Sector Treasury Services (now Link Treasury Services) 2001.  In her role as a client relationship manager, Nazmin is the first point of contact for a range of local authorities, supporting them in their day to day treasury activity. She is an integral member in Link’s credit and investment team which is responsible for deriving the Link’s credit methodology and the development of the investment strategy.

Nazmin has over 20 years’ of providing treasury management advice to local authorities and has in-depth specialist knowledge on debt and investment management, supported by a detailed understanding of the different types of debt instruments and investment processes used within the public sector. Nazmin is also a regular speaker at workshops and seminars including external conferences.

She has successfully completed the ACI dealing and CIPFA ACT Certificate in International Treasury Management – Public Finance.  Nazmin is an affiliated member of ACT.

Andrew joined Capital Letters in February 2024. After two decades in investment and corporate banking, Andrew transitioned to local government to drive commercial innovation, particularly in using institutional capital to support the provision of affordable housing delivery. With extensive experience in financing across various sectors and asset classes through the capital sack, Andrew has held multiple executive roles and board positions. As a Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA), he advocates for data-driven strategic decision-making and is deeply committed to impact investing and creating social value.

Ben Funnell is Head of Investment Solutions and is responsible for the macro and asset allocation process at CCLA, having joined in September 2022

Previously Ben spent 18 years managing multi asset funds at Man Group / GLG Partners LP, the London based hedge fund.  He started his investing career with a decade at Morgan Stanley where he was Chief European Strategist and sat on the firm’s global asset allocation committee

Ben was educated in Modern Languages at Durham University

Paras held a number of fund management roles in London and New York before becoming Head of European Equities at F&C Investments. He then joined Fidelity in 2012 as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) for European equities; before moving to Singapore in 2018 to become CIO for all asset classes and functions across the Asia-Pacific region. He was also a member of Fidelity International’s Global Operating Committee. He led the group’s strategy on sustainability and was global sponsor for cultural diversity. Paras joined Artemis as CIO in 2022. He is a partner in Artemis Investment Management LLP, a member of Artemis’ Executive Committee and a director of Artemis Fund Managers Limited. Outside of Artemis, Paras is a member of the Investor Forum’s board, and has recently been appointed as Chair of the IA Stewardship Committee.

Chris Naylor joined Inner Circle Consulting after nearly seven years as the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to focus on “reimagining public services and connecting them fully to the people who need them”. Under his leadership the Council focused on inclusive growth, prevention, civic engagement and public participation and equalities. In 2020 Chris was named Municipal Journal’s Chief Executive of the Year.

He joined Barking and Dagenham from the London Borough of Barnet where he was Chief Operating Officer. Previously he was Corporate Director of Resources in Tower Hamlets and Director of Resident Services at Hammersmith and Fulham.

Chris is a Chartered Accountant and has a degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge, specialising in contemporary social theory. Chris was born and brought up in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where he was educated at Wickersley comprehensive school.

Tony Travers is a professor in the LSE’s Government Department and an assistant dean in the LSE’s School of Public Policy.  Research interests include public finance, urban politics and London government.  He has been an advisor to a number of UK Parliamentary committees. 

He was a Senior Associate of the Kings Fund from 1999 to 2004, and also a member of the Arts Council’s Touring Panel during the late 1990s.  From 1992 to 1997, he was a member of the Audit Commission.   He was a member of the Urban Task Force Working Group on Finance.

He is a research board member of the Centre for Cities and a board member of the New Local Government Network. He is an Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy.  He chaired the London Finance Commission (2012-13 and again in 2016-17) and was a member of the City Growth Commission (2013-14).

He chaired an independent commission examining local government finance in Wales and the London Finance Commission (2014 and 2017).  He was co-chair of the King’s Commission on London.    

He has published a number of books on cities and government, including Failure in British Government The Politics of the Poll Tax (with David Butler and Andrew Adonis), Paying for Health, Education and Housing   How does the Centre Pull the Purse Strings (with Howard Glennerster and John Hills) and The Politics of London: Governing the Ungovernable City.  Most recently, he published London’s Boroughs at 50.

Carol is currently the Executive Director, Finance at Birmingham City Council after completing a spell as a Commissioner at Woking Borough Council and her year as CIPFA President.

She was previously the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer at Manchester City Council . As well as being the S151 officer, she had responsibility for the Corporate Core and for driving a number of priorities such as the leading on the Council’s Zero Carbon Action Plan and as SRO for The Factory and Town Hall projects. Her previous experience in Manchester has included her role as Deputy City Treasurer responsible for Finance and Performance and ICT as well as being a member of the Health and Social Care Devolution Team, as Assistant Chief Executive overseeing Finance and Performance and as the Assistant Director of Finance and Commissioning for Social Services.

She is CIPFA qualified and has a diploma in management. Carol has a wealth of experience in financial management, governance and assurance and fulfilling trustee roles. 

Since his appointment in 2017 he has established the Northern Powerhouse Partnership as the business led organisation which convenes the North together. From having made the case consistently for both HS2 to the North alongside Northern Powerhouse Rail, to challenging for a better deal for the most disadvantaged from the education system, his team are focused on how government, business and partners can drive the North’s ambitions. Before joining the Partnership, he worked in senior research and policy roles in policing and financial services, and as a former senior local government figure in Newcastle upon Tyne remains a commentator on regional and wider industrial policy.

Since 2020 he has also served as a member of the Royal Society Science, Industry and Translation Committee, as well as this year being appointed to the Court of Newcastle University.

Sidhant is responsible for managing CCLA’s three deposit and money market funds.

Having graduated from King’s College London in 2013 with a BSc in Maths & Computer Science (joint honours), Sidhant worked in the consulting industry focussing on wealth and asset management clients for six years. Sidhant then joined CCLA in 2019 and specialised as a fund manager within Cash and Money Markets team.

Sidhant holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Investment Management Certificate (IMC) qualifications. Outside of work he is a Governor for Foster’s Primary School in Bexleyheath.

Debbie Cunningham is Chief Investment Officer of Global Liquidity Markets. She joined Federated Hermes in 1981 as a performance analyst and has more than 30 years of investment experience. Since 1990 she has been a portfolio manager for all government and prime liquidity products. In 1994 she took over the management of the taxable liquidity group. In addition to the domestic taxable liquidity portfolios, Debbie also oversees the management of the domestic tax-exempt liquidity portfolios, as well as the offshore liquidity products. She is a current member of the CFA Society of Pittsburgh and previously held the title of Director and President.

Michael is the Executive Director of Finance & Resources at Cambridgeshire County Council as well as the President of the Society of County Council. Michael began his carrer with the Audit Commission before moving to KPMG. He has been a section 151 officer across unitary, city, district and county councils for 20 years. Outside of work his passions range from Liverpool FC to walking and cycling.

Emma Foy is the Industry Lead for Local Government at TechnologyOne, where she champions digital transformation across councils and public sector organisations. She brings deep expertise in modernising services and helping local authorities unlock the power of connected, cloud‑based technology. With a background of over ten years of being Section 151 in various local authorities, she now works closely with leaders to streamline operations and drive meaningful community outcomes. Emma is known for her collaborative approach, her commitment to innovation, and her passion for helping local government build more resilient, efficient, and future‑ready services. 

Maria interim chief finance officer (S151 officer) at Somerset Council. Prior to this she was the Corporate Director of Resources & Section 151 Officer of the London Borough of Redbridge and Finance Director & Section 73 Officer of the East London Waste Authority since 2016. Her remit includes Finance, Pensions, Audit, Insurance, IT, Revenues, Benefits, Registrars, Modern Day Slavery and Anti Poverty

Maria is also the former and now Past President and member of the Society of Municipal Treasurers a member of the Association of Local Authority Treasurers, Society of London Treasurers and Vice Chair of the London Finance Advisory Committee

Maria has worked in Local Government for more than 20 years in a number of authorities and has extensive experience in a wide range of leadership and advisory roles

Joanne has worked across the UK for central, regional, and local government, for housing associations and a national social justice charity, driving transformation and the delivery of better outcomes for people, places and the planet. At LB Enfield as well as the housing agenda she leads a large-scale, housing-led growth and regeneration project, and the levelling up of the three wards of Edmonton. LB Enfield is also co-lead Borough for the London Council’s pan-London Climate Change programme for warmer and greener homes through housing retrofit. And Joanne is also co-chair of the London Housing Directors Network.

Alison is the Director of Finance for Three Rivers Council. Alison previously worked for CIPFA as their Head of Standards and Financial Reporting and is past President of the SDCT.

Simon is Resonance’s chief investment officer. He joined Resonance in 2012 to establish and grow its award-winning impact investment fund management business, building on Resonance’s 20 year heritage in UK social enterprise. Resonance’s impact property funds now manage c.£330m across its three themes of homelessness, learning disability and vulnerable women, and are attracting institutional investment. In addition, Resonance operates a number of more specialist impact investment funds supporting social enterprise through its Impact Labs.

Simon has over 27 years of investment experience and was previously at Rothschild & Co where he focused on advising on energy and infrastructure projects across Europe and Asia. He has first-hand experience of social enterprise having previously served as a Trustee for a pioneering London-based homelessness charity and for the Transformational Business Network, which focuses on impact investing in Africa and Asia.

Joseph is the Chief Executive of West Berkshire Council and has previously been s151 officer at a number of different Councils. The Council has a range of exciting projects, is focused on financial sustainability and have been recent award winners for launching the UK’s first Community Municipal Investment and for digital transformation. The Council is proactively engaging in Local Government Reorganisation and the devolution agenda.

Becky is an experienced Director and Section 151 Officer with a finance and accountancy professional background and extensive experience working in local government. She joined Calderdale Council in September 2023 as Director of Resources and Transformation which was a newly role created to bring a more strategic focus on effective use of resources, transformation and shift to outcomes based financial planning. Her Directorate incorporates Finance, Corporate Procurement, ICT and Digital, HR and OD, Performance and Business Intelligence and Audit and Assurance.

Prior to her current role, Becky worked for North Lincolnshire Council as Director, Governance and Communities (S151 Officer) and experienced in strategic planning and organisational and system-wide transformation.

Ashley is the Executive Director of Resources at Cheshire East and sits over a portfolio of finance, people and digital services. He is passionate about placing people at the heart of outcomes and ‘doing with, not doing to’. Digital advancements present huge opportunities to change local government finance and deliver better services to residents and Cheshire East is on that journey”

Janice has worked in Local Government for most of her career, spanning over 30 years, with experience in County, Unitary and Metropolitan Councils as well as with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority before joining Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority recently as the Executive Director – Resources (S73 Officer).

Prior to joining the Combined Authority, Janice was the Executive Director of Finance and Performance (S151 Officer) for North Northamptonshire Council leading on a wide range of services and corporate transformation.  She was also responsible for the Council’s finances consisting of an annual net revenue budget of c£370m, a dedicated schools grant of £355m, a housing revenue account of £39m, as well as a four-year capital programme of c£110m.

Working directly with Government and other key stakeholders, Janice helped to establish, and subsequently work within, both Greater Manchester Combined Authority and North Northamptonshire Council – in each case promoting a strong and resilient organisation with robust governance from the outset whilst encouraging services to innovate and transform for the future.  She has supported a number of pan area projects including devolution deals and business rates retention as well as numerous capital and commercial investments including highways investments, housing developments and regeneration schemes.  

Currently, Janice is supporting the Combined Authority in its ambitious programme for transport, net zero, growth and skills across the Region.

Neil Okninski joined Local Partnerships in September 2013, having previously spent over 15 years advising on PFI/PPP transactions at Grant Thornton. His time in financial advisory was spent predominantly working for local authority clients in the schools, social housing and emergency services sectors. Neil also spent time on secondment at the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO, now DE&S) and in the Middle East, developing business plans for the Qatar Foundation.

More recently, at Local Partnerships Neil spent several years working closely with Welsh Government on its Welsh Government Energy Services programme and, more latterly, as Finance Lead on Mutual Investment Model (MIM) schools delivered as part of its Sustainable Communities for Learning programme. Prior to this, Neil led the Local Partnerships team delivering Home Office operational PFI project reviews.

Philip is the Director of Finance and Commercial Services at Sheffield City Council. In addition to his role as S151 Officer he has responsibility for procurement, revenues and benefits, internal audit and corporate performance. He has previously held senior finance roles at the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, the City of London Corporation and East Herts Council. 

Neil is passionate about securing a sustainable future for high quality financial reporting, governance and audit in the public sector and became the Financial Reporting Council’s first Director of Local Audit from September 2022. Neil is leading the FRC’s work on local audit as it takes on the shadow system leader responsibilities from DLUHC ahead of transition to ARGA. He will lead a dedicated Local Audit Unit at the FRC delivering the roles and responsibilities set out in the Memorandum of Understanding which was published in early March 2023 jointly between DLUHC and the FRC. Many delegates will have already seen and heard from Neil in various forums since he started in post and in presenting the FRCs current position to the Public Accounts Committee in mid-March 2023. Neil will update delegates on the FRCs plans, including the short-, medium- and long-term vision and priorities for the local audit system.  

Neil is a CIPFA member and has 25 years’ experience in local public audit. Before joining the FRC, Neil spent nearly 10 years as a Key Audit Partner for EY with responsibility for a range of local public sector audits across local government, central government, police, and the fire sectors. Neil contributed to EY’s response to a range of consultations on the future of financial reporting and external audit in the public sector. Prior to joining EY, Neil was a District Auditor for the Audit Commission between 2009 and 2012 following his training and career development at District Audit and the Audit Commission since 1998.

Andrew is Senior Quality Manager and is responsible for overseeing the work of PSAA’s appointed auditors; managing all PSAA’s audit quality monitoring arrangements, including appointment compliance.

Andrew is a qualified FCA. He joined PSAA in June 2016 after a 25 year career in local audit with District Audit and KPMG.  Having managed a range of external and internal public sector clients, he brings a wide knowledge and understanding of audit quality arrangements to this role.

Clive has been Strategic Director, Finance at the flagship London Borough of Southwark since May 2023.  2023 is a busy year for Clive with not only starting his new role in Southwark but also becoming President of the Society of London Treasurers. 

Prior to Southwark, Clive fulfilled a Resources Director role which includes s151 responsibilities for over a decade at the London Borough of Hounslow supporting the council to become Council of the Year in 2021.  This followed a period of service within a County Council and also a large accountancy firm.

ikin Tailor has spent almost two decades working in local government finance and is currently Director of Finance (deputy s151 officer) at Westminster City Council. Rikin started his career at the London Borough of Haringey where he worked on the transition to IFRS and then Capital and Assets Accountant at the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Having previously worked in senior roles including Head of Corporate Finance at Westminster, he returned to the authority in May having spent just over a year as Deputy Director for Local Audit at the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). During his time at the FRC he focussed on the local government audit backlog, working closely with the regulatory divisions of the FRC and DLUHC, CIPFA, NAO, PSAA and the ICAEW.   

His experience at the FRC has illustrated to him the importance of proportionate financial reporting and audit in the sector. And is keen that the backlog solution is a catalyst for long term reform.  

Graham is a CIPFA qualified accountant and has over 30 years experience across the public sector, predominately in local government, and has managed teams across all the major services in management and financial accounting. In this time, he has managed finances across unitary, county, and district authorities, including Northamptonshire County Council, South Somerset District Council, London Boroughs of Southwark and Haringey. 

As a consultant, Graham has spent the past 10 years providing support covering areas such as chart of account design, new system procurement and implementation, collection fund accounting, business partnering, supporting closure of accounts, and clearing historic audits across diverse organisations including London Borough of Croydon, Harborough District Council, Department for Transport, Government Property Agency and Capita (as part of support across six district councils).

Additionally, he is an experienced trainee and a previous tutor for CIPFA, teaching the PSFR and Case Study papers.

Ian is a Cipfa fellow who started his local government finance career in the 1980’s qualifying as an Accounting Technician before studying for Cipfa whilst at Blackpool and Preston City Councils. Ian is delighted to represent the NW region on Cipfa Council having been elected in 2023.

On leaving local government, Ian worked for the DWP before moving into consultancy and has spent the last 20 plus years at several major suppliers providing a variety of solutions and transformational services to the public sector with a significant focus on Local Government back-office enterprise solutions.

ikin Tailor has spent almost two decades working in local government finance and is currently Director of Finance (deputy s151 officer) at Westminster City Council. Rikin started his career at the London Borough of Haringey where he worked on the transition to IFRS and then Capital and Assets Accountant at the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Having previously worked in senior roles including Head of Corporate Finance at Westminster, he returned to the authority in May having spent just over a year as Deputy Director for Local Audit at the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). During his time at the FRC he focussed on the local government audit backlog, working closely with the regulatory divisions of the FRC and DLUHC, CIPFA, NAO, PSAA and the ICAEW.   

His experience at the FRC has illustrated to him the importance of proportionate financial reporting and audit in the sector. And is keen that the backlog solution is a catalyst for long term reform.