NCASS Committee

Andrew Ferguson Chair At university I studied Criminology and Politics, completing my BSc (hons) at Teesside and then my MSc at Cardiff University with the intention of joining the police service. Unfortunately for me, my hearing was not up the standards required and I was forced to readdress my ambition. I initially took a job on a supermarket graduate scheme and soon discovered that I was much more interested in the numbers behind the business than its actual operation and began to investigate careers looking in this field. I elected to join the National Audit Office, which boasted its Value For Money audits as an opportunity alongside its audit of government accounts. Having utilised these value for money reports for my university work I was keen to become a part of their production, as well as learning to become an accountant. Post qualification I am now in a position within the NAO, within which I am responsible for the day to day running of a number of audits. Being responsible for managing trainees work flow, management expectations and job budgets provides for an enjoyable challenge. Coupling this with being responsible for a large amount of client management and interaction ensures that the job is rarely without a problem to solve or investigate. It is this daily, changing challenge that I find most enjoyable working at the NAO, especially as a great deal of the issues I now find myself capable of dealing with would have drawn a blank expression less than 3 years ago. I look forward to my term as NCASS Chair and look forward to hearing from NCASS members across the region. Organisation: National Audit Office Email: Andrew.FERGUSON@nao.gsi.gov.uk

Samantha Chaney Vice Chair Samantha graduated from Northumbria University in 2007 with a BA (Hons) Degree in Accounting & Finance. In September 2007 she joined Clarke’s, a small firm in Gateshead, and is currently studying for the ACA qualification. In her spare time she enjoys swimming, snowboarding and mountain biking. Sam acted as Institute Student Council Rep for several years before taking over as Vice Chair in June 2010. Organisation: Clarke's Email: sam@clarkes-accountants.co.uk

Sian Nooney Treasurer Sian was elected Treasurer in June 2010. Organisation: KPMG Email: sian.nooney@kpmg.com

Dan Cooper Teesside Rep To follow Organisation: Horwath Clark Whitehill Email: daniel.cooper@horwath.co.uk

Committee Members

Nadeem Arshad, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Catherine Baker, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Ele Brown, National Audit Office

Kate Christie, Horwath (Teesside)

Lisa Guy, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Donald Haliday, Northumbria University

Jade Loney, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Sian Nooney, KPMG

Ellen Thomson, Newcastle University

Chris Wilson, KPMG

Society President: Andrew Jackson