ICAS’s top Scottish accountants under 35 in profile

The global body of finance professionals said the list, which includes entries spanning six continents, recognises “the best and brightest Chartered Accountants who are making a difference to the profession and to society”.

For the next 15 days Scottish Financial News will be profiling each of the Scottish representatives.

Today we profile: Patrick Brown, 29, Senior Management Accountant, Department for International Development, Glasgow, who is nominated in the Influence and innovation category.

More information on ICAS’s 35 Chartered Accountants (CAs) under 35.

Patrick Brown CA, 29, Senior Management Accountant, Department for International Development, Glasgow

Patrick started his career in accountancy when he was 17 when he took a part time job with a budding entrepreneur as his bookkeeper in the summer before starting University. After graduating with an accountancy degree, Patrick completed his CA training with Robb Ferguson in Glasgow. In December 2013 he took up the role of Financial Accountant at the Department for International Development (DFID), an organisation which reflects Patrick’s ethical stance on helping those in need. In 2014, he was promoted to Senior Management Accountant, with the role of leading in-year financial management of a £10bn budget.

“In December 2013 I took up the role of Financial Accountant at DFID. I was responsible for the preparation of the annual financial statements as well as responsibility for DFID’s VAT matters. In November 2014 I was promoted to the Senior Management accountant with the role of leading in-year financial management of a £10bn budget, ensuring key targets (including ODA which is the UK Governments commitment to spending 0.7% of GNI on international aid.) and ring-fences are monitored and managed through the year.

I directly lead a team of three qualified accountants, two trainees and two non-qualified staff. I also provide support to over 30 finance managers and four finance business partners across the organisation. This role is a perfect role for me as it balances using my skill, an interest in politics with an organisation that is doing good in the world. I am not out on the front line delivering aid but without the skill of the finance staff DFID would be unable to maximise its aid spend to deliver more results. It is an organisation which fits my morale conscious that is why I enjoy working here.

In addition, I hold a second employment with the entrepreneur who employed me back when I was 17. His businesses continue to grow and he required a part time person to oversee his bookkeeper. I do this on a part time basis in the evening and weekends. I really wanted to give back to him after supporting me early in my career.

Within my current role I am also mentoring a finance graduate through their qualification and training. I also stood for ICAS council at the AGM in 2013.

Being a CA has given me experiences that I would never have achieved without the qualification. Most importantly as a result of being a CA I have a job that I love, I have achieved a great deal under the age of 30 which has allowed me to provide for and create a very happy family environment for my wife and daughter. I have also been able to combine a number of my hobbies and interests with my career over the years including my love of politics combined with my job at DFID. My role at DFID also sits well with my ethical stance on helping those in need, something which I have always considered to be important since a young age. Whilst I was at Robb Ferguson I was able to give back and support young and entrepreneurial business which I believe it the strength of our economy. Being a CA has given me a great deal of confidence in my ability as the training is tough and to achieve the qualification builds your confidence greatly. It has also given me the opportunity to teach, it has built my presentational skills through presenting board papers at Senior Management Meetings, in front of a class of fellow professionals teaching them a new subject, and communicating with clients on a regular basis.

Being a CA has also allowed me to build a great support network with fellow professionals, it allows me to continue to learn through CPD opportunities and it has allowed me to do some good in this world through my job and volunteering which I hope to build on. Without the CA badge I would have never been able to obtain the role in DFID which has allowed me to travel to Ethiopia for a week to experience our programmes in action, a continent I never thought I would get the opportunity to visit, I would never have been involved in politics at the level I am at including sitting in the civil servants box on the floor of the House of Commons. Most importantly I would not have a job that I love, that makes me feel fulfilled and makes me happy”.