Mr Wood takes up the role with immediate effect following the retirement of Stephen Archer in December.

Infrastructure services provides a wide range of services to the people of Aberdeenshire including roads and transport, waste and the environment, housing, planning, economic development and landscape along with a raft of support services.

Mr Wood has been responsible for the authority’s finances including revenues, benefits, the council’s budget, payments, treasury and council tax collection since his appointment back in 2012.

His career started with Grampian Regional Council as a trainee accountant then onto the role of accountant when Aberdeenshire Council was formed in 1996.

In June last year, he played a leading role in recasting the council’s medium term financial strategy - which takes account of all areas of the council’s spending, including revenue, capital, housing revenue, and reserves - to tackle the shortfall which was forecast to reach over £30 million by the end of the financial year, and a potential shortfall of up to £60m by March 2022.

Council leader Cllr Andy Kille said: “Under Alan Wood’s leadership, Aberdeenshire Council’s finances have been in very safe hands.

“Year after year, working with directors, he has ensured our services continue to spend prudently and he has carefully balanced our budgets to ensure we remain financially secure. I have every confidence he will rise to the challenge of this directorate role where he will have the support of all our Heads of Service and their teams.”

Depute leader and chair of the council’s infrastructure services committee, Cllr Peter Argyle, added: “Over the years, we have seen the public purse stretched dramatically which has placed public sector finances under a great deal of scrutiny.

“Alan has played a key role in ensuring that our finances continued to be managed effectively and efficiently and I have every confidence that he will transfer his wealth of skills and knowledge to this vital interim post within Aberdeenshire Council and continue the excellent work undertaken by his predecessor Stephen Archer.”

Chief executive Jim Savege said: “I am delighted to welcome Alan to this challenging but rewarding position on an interim basis, and I look forward to continuing working with him in the months to come.”