Aberdeen City Council’s Head of Finance crowned Public Finance Professional of the Year

03 April 2017

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Scottish Conference has named Aberdeen City Council Head of Finance Steve Whyte as the Public Finance Professional of the Year.

Angela Scott, Aberdeen City Council’s Chief Executive said: “This is a richly deserved accolade for Steve personally and for the whole finance team.

“Steve and his team have been instrumental in finding innovative ways to fund major capital projects in Aberdeen, notably the successful £370million bond issue which was completed in November and was a first for a Scottish council.

“The bond represents one of the most significant achievements in our Council’s history. We became the first local authority in Scotland to turn to the markets in this way and the process underlines our commitment to innovation - not just in finance but in every aspect of what we do on a daily basis.

“The finance raised will be used to support a £1billion transformation programme, which includes major projects such as the new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and the City Centre Masterplan.”

Steve Whyte, said “Receiving such an award from my peers was a fantastic honour but more importantly it recognises the innovation by the Council to secure significant funding into the city over the next five years in a sustainable way that enhances and delivers on our infrastructure plans and aligns to our economic strategy and inward investment priorities.”

CIPFA is the professional body for people in public finance with 14,000 members working throughout the public services across the UK. It is a leading commentator on public financial management and provides a unique insight into public sector accountancy, financial management, and governance issues around the globe.