Experience

• 

  Northumbria University

  • Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  • Governance Manager

    • Oct 2019 - Present
    • Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    Manage the delivery of effective governance services for the Board and its Committees, including the provision of professional guidance and high quality secretariat support.

• 

  University of Sunderland

  • United Kingdom
  • Higher Education
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Head of Planning, Projects and MI

    • Nov 2016 - Aug 2019

    - Strategic lead on reporting from the student systems, and the integration of this reporting with other systems.- Provide support to drive a data quality culture throughout the organisation, raising the profile, understanding and impact this has on outputs from Planning, MI and Returns- Provide assurance to senior management that relevant systems and controls are operating and that the overall control environment is appropriately designed.- Oversee and manage all work relating to the annual planning cycle, external returns, management information, business intelligence and programme management. - Oversee the developing and implementing of data quality procedures and processes and programme management.

  • Strategic Planning & Business Intelligence Manager

    • Jun 2014 - Oct 2016

    Delivery of operational and strategic planning information to the Executive, Faculties and Services, and the managing of the University's funding contracts.

• 

  Newcastle City Council

  • United Kingdom
  • Government Administration
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Senior Specialist, Capital Investment Team

    • Oct 2013 - Mar 2014

    Short term project to design and implement a performance and outcomes framework for the Council’s £450m capital investment programme• worked with Directors and independent Audit Committee to scope requirements• designed and validated framework to deliver the required information including impact charts for major regeneration projects• implemented approach for the entire capital programme, including handover and further development notes

  • Head of Strategy, Planning & Performance

    • Sep 2009 - Sep 2013

    Responsible for corporate and service planning, performance management and reporting, regulation, corporate governance and information assurance to support delivery across a complex organisation and major strategic partnerships.• led a fundamental review of the Council’s approach to planning and performance management including its integration with financial management, risk and workforce planning• implemented the improved framework using a new matrix approach across both the Council and its key partnerships, enabling cost reductions of £200,000• led work on Equality and Diversity, resulting in the achievement of excellent status under the Equality Framework for Local Government• led work on Comprehensive Area Assessment, in which Newcastle achieved one of the best ratings nationally• managed one of the first peer challenges nationally under the Local Government Association’s new sector self-regulation framework, the results of which significantly influenced the subsequent restructure of the Council• led the introduction of a new approach to needs assessment that underpinned the development of the Council’s budget and of the first corporate plan of the new political administration

  • Head of Business Management

    • Sep 2005 - Aug 2009

    Responsible for corporate and service planning, risk management, programme and project management, partnership management, regulation, corporate governance and information assurance• worked closely with the Chief Executive in a major restructuring of the Council, contributing to an improved focus on outcomes and stronger governance arrangements• acted as lead officer for Audit Committee, ensuring that its capacity for challenge and holding officers to account was focused on areas of greatest risk; maintained a productive working relationship with the independent Chair• led work to report on value for money and performance in delivery of outcomes to the Audit Commission• coordinated, in partnership with the Audit Commission, regional work to shape the north east’s approach to the Comprehensive Area Assessment inspection regime• assumed leadership responsibility for information governance, security and assurance including data protection and freedom of information

  • Corporate Modernisation Manager

    • Jan 2003 - Aug 2005

    Responsible for the review and updating of the Council’s core business processes, for the relationship with external regulators and for the development and implementation of key strategies.• led the introduction of best practice business processes such as strategic procurement, project and risk management, working with operational managers and specialists across the Council, using influencing skills as well as leadership – resulted in improved Comprehensive Performance Assessment rating• assembled and led a team to support this work, enabling and supporting staff to develop their personal skills and experience while achieving the team’s goals• responsible for corporate governance and the relationship with the Audit Commission including Comprehensive Performance Assessment; coordinated the Council’s achievement of ‘excellent’ status• successfully led a bid for £15m PFI credits to finance our customer service centres• led the Council’s involvement in the procurement which delivered the customer service centres PFI, contributing to the establishment of a ground-breaking and successful partnership involving two local authorities, two primary care trusts and government agencies• led the £750,000 procurement of a customer relationship management solution• played a major role in the involvement of local government nationally in the NHS LIFT framework, including demonstrating that LIFT was an appropriate framework for the delivery of PFI projects• led a Tyne and Wear level bid for £500,000 government funding to implement a network of touch screen information kiosks; led the procurement of a private sector delivery partner

  • Assistant General Manager, Business Management

    • Nov 1997 - Dec 2002

    Responsible for providing financial and business support to the Council’s direct services with budgets of £170 million under the government’s Compulsory Competitive Tendering and Best Value regimes• introduced consistent business planning to 25 trading entities, enabling improved performance management of the directorate• led the development of the Council’s corporate plan with direct involvement from elected Cabinet members, resulting in improve political ownership of performance• led the development and implementation of corporate strategies and policies such as customer service and procurement, working with officers across the Council, elected members and trade unions, contributing to the successful PFI bid and inspection outcomes (above)• led the customer service work stream of a £40 million procurement exercise

  • Business Manager

    • Nov 1992 - Oct 1997

    Responsible for providing financial and business support to the Council’s architectural services department in preparation for Compulsory Competitive Tendering• designed, implemented and managed financial management and contract costing and tendering systems and processes for the architectural services department in preparation for competitive tendering• designed a pricing model for the building-related services (architectural and property services) contract• led the formulation of a competitive bid for the £5 million contract, which was won

• 

  Northern Rock

  • Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  • Assistant Field Audit Manager

    • Nov 1991 - Aug 1992
    • Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    Responsible for the internal audit of branches and subsidiaries. • worked on the preparation for disposal of estate agency subsidiaries• provided information on estate agency subsidiaries for reports to regulators

• 

  EY

  • London

  • Audit Manager

    • Sep 1985 - Jul 1991
    • London

    Qualified as a Chartered Accountant in the London office and managed a range of clients including multinationals and PLCs