Former Scottish accountant of the year struck off over £50,000 fraud

ICAS took the action after Ian Main admitted that he had encouraged businesses to apply for grants from Skills Development Scotland, which were supposed to be used for staff training.

Hardly any of the money was used for training and most ended up in the bank account of Main’s former company, Stark Main and Co in Selkirk.

Main, 43, of Selkirk, who was named Scottish accountant of the year in 2015, had admitted forming a fraudulent scheme by making claims to the skills agency.

He obtained £47,215 by fraud between March 2013 and April 2015.

He was jailed for 16 months at Selkirk sheriff court last month.

Main has now been barred by ICAS after an investigation carried out by the body found him guilty of misconduct.

Icas said: “The matters in question occurred when Mr Main was a partner in the firm of Stark Main & Co, based in Selkirk. The committee understands that concerns were first raised by employees of this firm.

“As Mr Main was convicted on an indictable offence and has received a prison sentence, the committee concluded that this represents prima facie evidence that he is guilty of professional misconduct and that he is therefore liable to disciplinary action.

“Mr Main’s conduct fell far below the standards that the public reasonably expects of chartered accountants and is incompatible with his continued membership of Icas. As such, no lesser penalty than exclusion could be justified.”