David Gattens
Finance/Commercial Director & Company Secretary at Glasgow Film- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Bernie Shepherd
David was my line manager for just over ten years, and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone, be it employer or employee. Although he is obviously a skilled accountant, I believe that his greatest strength is in his people skills, equally comfortable discussing cash entries with a mail room assistant as he is explaining strategy to the board and senior staff. This, added to his ability to see quickly how certain actions impact on others and on results, means he is exceptionally well placed when it comes to setting up processes and training. I have always found him happy to explain things, no matter how long it took for it to sink in and keen to ensure that every member of the team felt like just that, a member of the team. I spent a truly happy and rewarding ten years as part of that team.
Steven Webb FCCA
David was my manager for the 14 years that I was Financial Accountant at McGrigors LLP. He has a great depth of financial knowledge and experience and was always on hand to assist or advise me with any problems that I had. As a manager I always found him approachable and fair to deal with. He was able to lead teams, resolve issues and get results while retaining a much-needed sense of humour. I learned a lot from him in my time working at McGrigors LLP and would certainly not hesitate in recommending him.
Bernie Shepherd
David was my line manager for just over ten years, and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone, be it employer or employee. Although he is obviously a skilled accountant, I believe that his greatest strength is in his people skills, equally comfortable discussing cash entries with a mail room assistant as he is explaining strategy to the board and senior staff. This, added to his ability to see quickly how certain actions impact on others and on results, means he is exceptionally well placed when it comes to setting up processes and training. I have always found him happy to explain things, no matter how long it took for it to sink in and keen to ensure that every member of the team felt like just that, a member of the team. I spent a truly happy and rewarding ten years as part of that team.
Steven Webb FCCA
David was my manager for the 14 years that I was Financial Accountant at McGrigors LLP. He has a great depth of financial knowledge and experience and was always on hand to assist or advise me with any problems that I had. As a manager I always found him approachable and fair to deal with. He was able to lead teams, resolve issues and get results while retaining a much-needed sense of humour. I learned a lot from him in my time working at McGrigors LLP and would certainly not hesitate in recommending him.
Bernie Shepherd
David was my line manager for just over ten years, and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone, be it employer or employee. Although he is obviously a skilled accountant, I believe that his greatest strength is in his people skills, equally comfortable discussing cash entries with a mail room assistant as he is explaining strategy to the board and senior staff. This, added to his ability to see quickly how certain actions impact on others and on results, means he is exceptionally well placed when it comes to setting up processes and training. I have always found him happy to explain things, no matter how long it took for it to sink in and keen to ensure that every member of the team felt like just that, a member of the team. I spent a truly happy and rewarding ten years as part of that team.
Steven Webb FCCA
David was my manager for the 14 years that I was Financial Accountant at McGrigors LLP. He has a great depth of financial knowledge and experience and was always on hand to assist or advise me with any problems that I had. As a manager I always found him approachable and fair to deal with. He was able to lead teams, resolve issues and get results while retaining a much-needed sense of humour. I learned a lot from him in my time working at McGrigors LLP and would certainly not hesitate in recommending him.
Bernie Shepherd
David was my line manager for just over ten years, and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone, be it employer or employee. Although he is obviously a skilled accountant, I believe that his greatest strength is in his people skills, equally comfortable discussing cash entries with a mail room assistant as he is explaining strategy to the board and senior staff. This, added to his ability to see quickly how certain actions impact on others and on results, means he is exceptionally well placed when it comes to setting up processes and training. I have always found him happy to explain things, no matter how long it took for it to sink in and keen to ensure that every member of the team felt like just that, a member of the team. I spent a truly happy and rewarding ten years as part of that team.
Steven Webb FCCA
David was my manager for the 14 years that I was Financial Accountant at McGrigors LLP. He has a great depth of financial knowledge and experience and was always on hand to assist or advise me with any problems that I had. As a manager I always found him approachable and fair to deal with. He was able to lead teams, resolve issues and get results while retaining a much-needed sense of humour. I learned a lot from him in my time working at McGrigors LLP and would certainly not hesitate in recommending him.
Credentials
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Chartered Accountant
ICAS - The Professional Body of CAsJan, 1995- Nov, 2024
Experience
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GFT
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United Kingdom
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Motion Pictures and Film
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1 - 100 Employee
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Finance/Commercial Director & Company Secretary
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Nov 2014 - Present
Responsible for financial control, personnel, organisational systems (including IT), marketing, development of income generation opportunities, and building management.https://glasgowfilm.org/what-we-do Glasgow Film is a national centre for film and moving image media where audiences and filmmakers experience and debate cultural practice and ideas through diverse, unique and quality programmes that transform the way people see the world through film.Quality programming, engagement and learning are central to the ethos of Glasgow Film. We aim to create excellent, accessible and innovative moving image programmes and creative learning opportunities around film for all age groups. We want to enable people of all ages and backgrounds to experience a diverse film programme with the potential to intersect with their lives in meaningful and inspiring ways.Glasgow Film is:• The GFT, Glasgow’s centre for film-lovers. Glasgow Film Theatre has been leading the way in specialised cinema for over 45 years. Our three screens show 100% specialised titles, 1st run world and independent cinema, artists’ experimental work, issue based programmes, thematic seasons, repertory programmes, Scottish produced work, festivals, and a programme of event cinema and live broadcast• Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) established in 2005, has become the launching pad for the best of international and Scottish cinema and is recognised as one of the UK's top three film festivals. GFF presents a unique programme including feature films, industry workshops, special events and work for children and families• Glasgow Youth Film Festival, curated by young people, presenting an outstanding range of international films & creative workshops across the city• Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI's Film Audience Network which aims to extend film choice, increase audiences, and enhance opportunities for audiences across Scotland to deepen their relationship with film
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Glasgow Short Film Festival
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United Kingdom
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Movies, Videos, and Sound
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1 - 100 Employee
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Company Secretary
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Sep 2019 - Present
Glasgow Short Film Festival, the largest competitive short film festival in Scotland, champions new film talent by providing an annual showcase and meeting point for new and established Scottish and international filmmakers, industry delegates and the local audience. Our programme celebrates diverse forms of cinematic expression, whether fiction, documentary, animation or artists’ moving image, and foregrounds disruptive, ground-breaking work that transgresses the boundaries of conventional narrative film.
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Various freelance consultant and voluntary projects
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Jan 2014 - Oct 2014
Including:* Training Consultant - design and delivery of financial awareness training for law firms* Systems Consultant - client-confidential project re development of accounting software for law firms* Team Leader (Spectator Services) at Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games* Business Adviser (for Hunter Hayes) - new business consultancy practice[Following an extended career break (May-December 2013), these projects were undertaken while waiting for the right full-time challenge to materialise.]
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McGrigors
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United Kingdom
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Law Practice
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1 - 100 Employee
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Financial Controller
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Aug 1997 - Apr 2013
1997-2000: Financial Accountant2000-2013: Financial ControllerReporting to the Chief Operating OfficerResponsible for managing the UK Finance team of 28 in providing all financial management support and financial accounts and ensuring that financial operations/procedures and systems of the firm were run in accordance with UK Accounting Standards and regulatory requirements.Overall responsibility for implementation of a robust accruals process and in determining the valuation of WIP and bad debt/other provisions.Overseeing and continually improving financial systems and processes.Principal achievements:* Successfully led UK Finance team over 15 years of continual growth that saw annual turnover increased from £18m to £72m, the number of offices expanded from 3 to 8 (including 2 overseas) and the number of partners/directors increased from c.45 to c.125. All of this achieved without significant increase in Finance team headcount.* At the forefront of the integration process in a number of substantial mergers/acquisitions (including KPMG/KLegal, Pinsent Masons, Ledingham Chalmers and L'Estrange & Brett). In most instances, I had the final say on the key decisions regarding systems and process integration.* Design and delivery of various training courses/workshops and conference presentations - many with the aim of enhancing financial awareness among non-financial partners and staff.They included: Our Business, Our Commercial Performance; The Seven Habits of Highly Commercial Solicitors; Leadership Development for New Partners (Finance and Financial Modelling); and Legal Profitability (one-day business simulation course).Feedback scores on these sessions indicated that they were all very well-received.* Low staff turnover within my team (average length of service as at April 2012 was 10+ years). Staff were continually motivated and challenged to improve their service delivery.
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PwC
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Professional Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Audit Manager
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Sep 1992 - Aug 1997
Qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1995.Specialised in audit services - leading assignments on a number of high profile clients across a number of industries (drinks industry, media, health, local government).Led two major studies for West of Scotland NHS Trusts relating to Day Surgery and A&E Services.Two 3-month secondments at international drinks company as stand-in Financial/Consolidation Accountant. Qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1995.Specialised in audit services - leading assignments on a number of high profile clients across a number of industries (drinks industry, media, health, local government).Led two major studies for West of Scotland NHS Trusts relating to Day Surgery and A&E Services.Two 3-month secondments at international drinks company as stand-in Financial/Consolidation Accountant.
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Education
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1989 - 1992
University of Strathclyde
BA, Accounting & Economics
Community
