Biography
I was born in Germany and my parents moved on many occasions before finally settling and bringing me up in Kinghorn, Fife. I attended Kirkcaldy High School and went on to the University of Edinburgh in 1977 to study Maths and Physics. These were my strongest subjects at school and I was advised to pursue them at University. This was not what I would call ‘career advice’. I failed my first year and so I needed to re-think what I wanted my future career to be before deciding what to study next.
I was keen to explore the world and it dawned on me that accounting is a truly global language and that by mastering it I would be able to build an international career.
College suited me well as I had chosen a course, HND Accounting, that interested me. During my studies I was awarded the course prize which boosted my confidence and I could see clearly how an accounting qualification would enable my career. Most of my classes were in an old building on Kirk Wynd which was very quaint and a special environment in which to be taught.
The HND qualification enabled me to join Bird Simpson & Co, Dundee as a trainee Chartered Accountant. Upon qualifying and becoming an ICAS member I joined PwC in Glasgow before transferring to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and subsequently to Zurich, Switzerland where I now live with my wife, who is Australian. We have two sons - one lives in Edinburgh, the other in Sydney.
My 37 years with PwC provided a vast range of experiences in numerous countries and the last eight years as a member of the Global Board helped me transition to governance roles.
My advice to the students of today is to think where they would like to see themselves in three to five years and plan their studies and work appropriately. Short-term there’s often a need to invest time and earn less but careers of over 40 years are becoming more common and so it is important to secure a job that excites you and provides the financial benefits that give you lifestyle choices.
Now semi-retired I’m keen to give back to establishments like Fife College and ICAS that have enabled me to enjoy a successful career and I’m therefore delighted to be one of the first Fife College registered alumni and to share my story to benefit others.