1. Margaret Nelson
3/2 Port Hamilton
Edinburgh
EH3 8JL
0131 622 0610 (H) 0771 636 2373 (M)
e-mail: margaret1999_1998@yahoo.co.uk
Education:
1984.1988 Napier College of Commerce & Technology
BA Accounting (commendation)
Full time ACCA course – completed Level 2 of professional
exams
1967.1973 Craigroyston High School
4 SCE Higher Grades, 8 SCE O Grades
Professional: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
Qualified ACCA 1994 FCCA 1999
Summary
• Qualified accountant
• Wide range of post-qualifying experience in all accounting functions –
management, financial and statutory accounting
• Particularly experienced in HE/FE sectors
• Strategic financial planning and management
• Financial management of grant-funded projects – EU, Research
Councils, SFC and other agencies
• Financial benchmarking and KPIs
• Procurement
• Internal audit
• Staff management and development
• Design and implement high level financial procedures
Current Employment
From July 2015 to January 2017

2. Forestry Commission Scotland
Temporary Financial/management Accountant
Assist Senior Finance Manager in all aspects of financial and management
accounting – business planning, budgeting, forecasting, preparation of periodic
management reports, periodic reconciliation of trial balances, general ledger
accounts, assist in preparation of annual statutory accounts.
Previous employment
From August 2009 to May 2015
Edinburgh Napier University
Finance Manager in Academic Development (until February 2010)
Finance Manager in Finance Department (from February 2010)
Management Accountant - Projects in Finance Department (from April
2011)
From April 2011
Support Head of Project Accounting in providing full financial management
service to all holders of external funding grants and awards.
Prepare detailed project management reports for two faculties and business
areas within faculties.
Budgeting and forecasting, assisting with development of business plans for
faculties, institutes and schools. – three year rolling budgets, plus annual and
quarterly forecasting.
Provide financial management, advice and support re projects – e.g. Research
Councils, SFC, charities & trusts, EU Structural Funds.
Liaise with project partners, project auditors and project staff to ensure
compliance with funders’ rules and maximization of claims.
Support development of new reporting formats.
Prior to April 2011
Provide full financial management support to the Director of Academic
Development (AD) in the oversight, managing and monitoring of the
departmental budget, budget and strategic planning, forecasting.

3. Dealing with and advising on all procurement/tendering issues, ensuring
compliance with internal, national and EU guidance.
Ensure adherence to all financial procedures and regulations. Provide support
to all staff in complying with financial/procurement regulations
Responsible for the financial management of all externally funded projects,
ensuring compliance with funders’ (e.g. EU, SFC, Research Councils)
requirements, submission of claims, managing project cash flows, project
accounting in ledgers, financial management, monitoring and reporting of
project budgets.
Development of financial procedures and regulations as required.
Liaison with colleagues, external partners and funders in developing budgets
and financial risk assessments for new project proposals and monitoring
existing projects.
Advice and support on project funding regulations for a range of funders (EU,
RCs, SFC).
Maintain accurate accounting and other records, ensuring that full supporting
documentation is available to support all project claims. Liaise with internal,
external and EU auditors,
Manage 2 staff (2 x Finance Officers).
From December 2008 to August 2009
Hays Accountancy Personnel Ltd (Agency)
Temporary Management Accountant at NHS National Services Scotland
Provide professional management accounting support to headquarters cost
centres of NHS Board, budgeting and forecasting, preparing periodic reports,
analysis of financial information and liaising with budget holders.
From March 2008 to November 2008
Stevenson College Edinburgh (SCE)
Head of Finance (August to November 2008)

4. Fully responsible for management of comprehensive financial services to the
college including
• development and implementation of college financial strategy;
• represent finance in internal management meetings;
• manage the preparation of annual accounts and supporting
documentation;
• oversee revenue and capital budgeting and forecasting, preparation of
periodic management accounts and other financial reports (e.g.
cashflow) to budget holders, senior management and Finance
Committee;
• monitor college cashflows and cash deposits, making risk-assessed and
appropriate recommendations for investment of excess cash in the short
and medium term;
• liaison with internal and external auditors, ensuring that all audit
recommendations were implemented;
• give financial advice and support in submitting new funding proposals or
claims – e.g. ESF and other grants and commercial income
• preparation of statutory and other returns (e.g. OSCR and SFC),
• VAT and other taxation matters;
• develop, maintain and update when necessary financial regulations and
procedures;
• responsible for college procurement function, including liaison with
external procurement bodies; (e.g. APUC) and
• manage 9 FTE staff.
Temporary Accountant (March – July 2008)
Main duties: Comprehensive support to Head of Finance in preparing financial
and management accounts and external returns. Develop budgets and
forecastsFinancial advice and support to budget holders. Support development
of strategic financial plans, policies and procedures.
From March 2007 to February 2008
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Decision Support Accountant at Centre for Ecology & Hydrology,
Edinburgh (a research centre of NERC)

5. Key responsibilities:
Site accountant responsible for provision of financial and project management
information.
Reporting to the Finance Manager, I was responsible for providing financial
support and analysis to our business decision makers.
The main duties were:
• providing business focused financial support to decision makers across the
organization – e.g. preparation of financial information in support of
European and other grants;
• maintaining and applying full economic costing model;
• project costing and pricing;
• strategic cost, revenue and margin management;
• capital appraisal, utilization and sustainability control; and
• knowledge transfer value management
From March 1999 to Feb 2007 Scottish Funding Council for Further &
Higher Education
Senior Financial Analyst (Governance & Management: Appraisal &
Policy Directorate) – promoted May 2003 from post of Financial
Analyst
• lead a team, analysing, reporting & advising on strategic planning,
governance, risk management, financial management, audit and control
and VfM issues for a portfolio of 7 universities and 17 colleges and
contributed to policy developments in these areas;
• took lead responsibility on developmental and policy tasks to support
the Corporate Plan, including performance measurement of HE and FE
sectors through cost benchmarking, unit costs and financial performance
indicators, procurement and commercial activities, and took forward
specific strands of work related to the Efficient Government Initiative –
business process improvement, shared services and procurement, in
particular contributing to early policy developments in the work of
implementing the McClelland report on procurement;
• advise and support institutions in financial difficulties..

6. Key skills & competencies exercised:
• management of team to achieve corporate and directorate objectives
within agreed deadlines and quality standards;
• time management, planning & prioritisation;
• influencing & negotiation, often in sensitive situations (e.g. financial
recovery);
• project management (PRINCE2 Foundation level);
• communication skills. Responsible for writing and presenting regular
reports to the Audit Committee and Council on the outcome of the
Directorate’s assessment of the financial health of the FE sector and
individual institutions;
• networking with key players in the FE and HE sectors;
• maintaining professional knowledge and knowledge of developments in
the tertiary education sector;
• attention to detail in analysing and presenting information;
• IT literate.
March 2002 to December 2002 – seconded to act as Head of Finance at
Stevenson College, Edinburgh
• led and managed the college’s finance function (14 FTE), including all
aspects of accounting, finance and taxation work. Also completed a
project developing new financial regulations, working procedures and led
the development of a financial strategy and its integration into the
college strategic plan.
August 2001 – January 2002 Acting up as Head of Internal Audit
• planned and implemented the annual internal audit plan, derived from
the risk-based Strategic Audit Plan.
July 1995 - February 1999 Scottish Homes Auditor
• planned, implemented and reported on systems based reviews to tight
deadlines;
• led a task force redesigning computerised accounting systems to ensure
that debtor income was collected.

7. December 1993 - June 1995 Lothian Health Board Audit
Team Leader
• led a team planning & implementing organisational audit plan;
• reported on systems based financial, operational and VfM reviews of all
NHS Trust functions.
August 1992 - October 1993 Eastern Motor Co Ltd Management
Accountant
• led a team of 3 in subsidiary of £20 million turnover motor dealers;
• prepared statutory & management accounts.
September 1991 - July 1992 Sick leave following accident (now fully
recovered)
November 1990 - August 1991 Dansco Dairy Products Company
Accountant
• led a team of 5 in the accounting function of £21million turnover
subsidiary of transnational group;
• managed the financial reporting for two factories, to tight deadlines;
April 1990 to October 1990 ASA International Ltd (Agency) Asst
Accountant
• analysed and restructured accounting systems.
November 1989 - to March 1990 Lewisham & North Southwark
Health Authority
Management Accountant
• preparation of forecasts, budgets and management accounts & costing
of clinical procedures.
July 1988 - October 1989 Scott, Oswald & Co, CA Accounts
Asst

8. • general accounting work, mainly accounts preparation for a range of
small businesses
February 1976 - June 1984 Scottish Life Assurance Co Pension
Administrator
March 1975 - January 1976 Friends' Provident Life Pensions
Administrator
August 1973 - February 1975 Inland Revenue Tax
Officer