1. Donald Matheson MacKenzie BSc CA
52 Crown Drive, Inverness IV2 3QG
Telephone 01463 712619 Mobile 07703 218862
E mail: donald@drivebs.co.uk
Summary
I am an experienced director, having worked in quoted businesses and start-ups and with hands-on
commercial exposure from setting up and running a multi site business.
Education
1983-1986 Trained as a Chartered Accountant
1980-1983 University of Edinburgh- BSc Economic and Accountancy
1976-1980 Inverness Royal Academy
Employment History
2005 to date Drive Business Services Ltd- Inverness Director
Drive was set up to offer business advice and accountancy services, including payroll and bookkeeping,
up to board level advice to clients. I am Finance Director for some companies, general advisor at others.
• Clients in construction, manufacturing, farming, food, IT, engineering, property and more
• Created lists of potential clients. Recruited new clients, set charges, billed and collected fees
• Completed management accounts, annual accounts, VAT returns, and tax returns for clients
• Company secretarial work including company formation and restoration and annual returns
• Advised on dividends and created relevant paperwork
• Provided invoicing and credit control to clients
• Ran CIS reporting for clients; Contractors and Sub contractors
• Set up and chaired director meetings for clients
• Developed internal systems, selected relevant accounts preparation and tax software
• Recruited and managed staff
• Researched and wrote reports on the economic effects of different forms of land use
• Advised clients on succession. Carried a client through a divorce
• Investigated operating systems and advised on selection of software for clients
• Guided one client through a management buy-out, and later trade sale
• Bought and sold businesses, and parts of businesses
• Advised on recruitment of staff, interviewed for positions. Supplied contracts of employment
• Advised on termination of contract and other HR matters
2005 to 2013 Food Certification International Ltd Finance Director (3 to 5 days/week)
I guided the business through a management buyout in 2007, dealing with the lawyers and designing, and
getting agreement on, the share allocations between participants. In 2012 I helped the company through a
merger with a Private Equity backed trade buyer and then worked to integrate systems and reporting.
Achievements include having
• Developed new management reporting package, with relevant performance measures
• Managed income and expenditure, including multi-currency, and international payments
• Created tenders and pitched for business across all continents
• Contributed to board work on strategy
• Carried out company secretarial work, dealt with Auditors
• Launched Marine Stewardship Council project division now operating across the world
• Dealt with lawyers on litigation and corporate matters
• Advised on staff matters including recruiting and dismissals
• Worked on cutting costs and creating more revenue
• Worked with private equity company, integrating business into group

2. 1992 to 2007 Lilliput - London, then Inverness Founder and Managing Director
My wife and I founded Lilliput to retail baby equipment. We expanded to have four shops and a
warehouse, reaching a turnover in excess of £2 million, with forty staff.
• Sourced products from distributors, and our own manufacturing partners, world-wide
• Recruited, trained and managed staff
• Acquired and redesigned premises
• Managed vehicles and other equipment
• Dealt with customers including selling and after care
1992 to 1993 Clarke Whitehill - London Consultant
Commissioned a new computer system and operating procedures in a large membership organisation.
1989 to 1992 Securiguard Group plc (now part of Rentokil Initial) London
Divisional Finance Director of Cleaning and Maintenance Division (T/O £30 million and circa 3000 staff)
Controlled a finance and payroll department of about twenty staff and produced and reported on monthly
and annual reports. Worked closely with the Divisional Managing Director, Group Directors and directors
of divisional companies, contributing to the full range of business matters at board meetings and
generally. The company ran cleaning and maintenance contracts in major buildings across the UK
including Heathrow airport, Whitehall offices and City banks. I learnt a lot from working in a highly
competitive industry with low margins.
I transformed employment practices by pushing through an increase in our pay rates to reducing high staff
turnover and the costs of recruitment and training. We made more efficient use of more experienced staff.
I strengthened credit control and reduced debtor days, in part by developing a process to give early
warning of clients delaying what should have been regular payments. I acquired and merged a number of
trading companies, saving on duplicated support functions.
1986 to 1989 Michael Page Group – Recruitment London
Joined as a temporary management accountant while waiting to sit final CA exam. Joined staff as
Financial Accountant and rose to control the Finance Department of the main UK trading company with
a staff of about a dozen. I ran the finance side of the demerger from Addison Page plc that made Michael
Page Group an independent quoted company.
1983 to 1986 Arthur Young McClelland Moores and Co (now EY) – Edinburgh
During my time as a Chartered Accountancy apprentice, I worked at a range of audit clients including
banks, insurers, brewers, distillers and investment companies then smaller businesses such as lawyers,
farmers, retailers, hotels, and schools after transferring from audit to the Business Services Division.
Holiday Jobs
From an early age I helped out on the family farm, near Inverness, during school and university holidays.
Professional Qualification
I became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland in 1987.
Interests
I enjoy watching most sports and played rugby at school and university. I would like to play more and
better golf than the few games I manage now. I play cricket in a local league. I enjoy cooking, walking
with our two dogs, cycling, growing vegetables, fishing, shooting and DIY. I read a lot, from classics to
modern fiction. I maintain, and, in summer, occasionally drive, when it is not being used by my twenty
year old son, an old Morris Minor.
Family
Married to Isabelle with four sons aged from 23 down to 13 years.
Voluntary work
Committee member Highland Field Sports Fair. We raise around £30,000 per annum for good causes.
Treasurer of Highland District Hockey organisation

3. Involved with local church
Past Chairman of Millburn Academy Parent Council - during £30million rebuild of school
Organiser of group giving cycle training to pupils at our local primary school
My Strengths
Qualified as a Chartered Accountant and then really learnt what the numbers mean in business
Experienced the joys and sorrows of running a business
Wide commercial experience in a range of different industries and size of businesses
Good grasp of legal, personnel and corporate finance matters
Capable people manager with the ability to lead by example and get the best from a team
Highly motivated to achieve
Good exposure to a variety of software, including Office suite, databases, and accounting programs
Good communicator so can listen to or promote ideas
Experienced in dealing with the media