PrintCase studies
Name: Nathan Elvery
Job title: Director of Finance and Resources
Employer: London Borough of Croydon
After qualifying with the Association of Account Technicians (AAT) in 1990 and CIPFA in 1994, it was the challenge that persuaded Nathan Elvery to pursue a career in the public services. The fast changing and dynamically pressurised environment appealed to him. He also relishes in the prospect that his actions will be judged by the people who matter the most - the public.
Now at the London Borough of Croydon, he is the youngest financial director in London’s 33 councils. He is both the financial advisor and statutory chief finance officer and is responsible for managing the financial activities of the council, in addition to the planning, development and leadership of the council’s financial, procurement, facilities, assets and major project management services. Prior to this, Nathan was assistant director for finance and business management with Westminster City Council.
Nathan sets himself and his team very high standards to aspire to so they can be the very best at what they do: “I enjoy the personal satisfaction received from seeing an idea being turned into a vision, implemented in a strategy and delivered in a solution that makes a measurable difference to the local area.”
Nathan believes that the CIPFA Professional Accountancy Qualification (Professional Qualification) provides graduates with a unique insight to the financial world of public services, which will enable them to become successful financial managers. He says: “Local government is full of opportunities for young, dynamic and ambitious individuals who can demonstrate they will not only develop as an accountant but improve themselves at the same time.”
Name: Joanne Lodge
Employer: Durham County Council
Joanne Lodge joined Durham County Council at 16, as an Accounting Technician Modern Apprentice. She proved to be an excellent student, qualifying as an Accounting Technician at only 19 years of age. Building on this success, she is now a CIPFA student, working towards the qualification of Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CPFA). Joanne, who works in the council’s Payroll Group, always wanted to gain work experience while studying, and the AAT/CIPFA route has helped her achieve this aim. What’s more, the transition from one course to the other has been made easy by the close links between the two bodies. No wonder Joanne says “I’ve never looked back since I left school.”
Name: John Crowther
Job title: Financial Services Manager
Employer: Leeds City Council
John Crowther is Financial Services Manager at Leeds City Council, and he feels that much of his career success can be attributed to the AAT/CIPFA study route. The AAT qualification gave him a strong grounding in accountancy when he was starting out. He then waited a while before deciding to continue onto the CIPFA qualification, but the gap didn’t do him any harm, as he won a prize for his excellent results in the 2002 CIPFA final exams. “I feel that CIPFA offers a well-rounded accountancy qualification which is truly work-based,” says John. “I have gained confidence through my studies and my ambitions are constantly being revised upwards.”