ICAS’s top Scottish accountants under 35 in profile - Claire Robertson, Director at BDO LLP

Thirteen Scottish-based accountants have been named among ICAS’s 35 Chartered Accountants (CAs) under 35 for 2017.

For 13 days Scottish Financial News will be profiling each of the Scottish representatives.

Today we profile: Claire Robertson CA, 27, Director, BDO LLP, Glasgow, who is nominated in the Leadership & Influence category.

After graduating with a degree in law from the university of Aberdeen, Claire trained as a CA with Deloitte, within the Enterprise Risk Services team, working on mainly internal audit clients and consultancy engagements. She progressed quickly to Manager before moving to BDO in 2013.

She was promoted to Director in 2014, heading up the Scotland Internal Audit function and in this time she has tripled the department headcount and significantly grown sales by 500 per cent.

“At BDO I established a Risk and Advisory Services Practice in Scotland and was quickly promoted to Director. I have developed a team (mainly comprised of fellow CAs) which now advises a broad portfolio of clients on a variety of internal controls, risk and corporate governance matters including clients within the public sector, financial services, and the broader commercial sector. I am really passionate about business development and about making a difference to the clients we advise and providing exceptional client service, and I really enjoy the variety and continuing challenge that growing and developing a strong team and delivering challenging projects entails.

Outside of work, I participate in triathlons and also volunteer to enhance opportunities for others to participate in sport. I also have a young family, who I love to spend time with, preferably being active outdoors.

I was keen to obtain a professional qualification that would equip me well to advise on the challenges faced by a diverse and dynamic client base. The CA qualification helped me not only develop a financial skillset but also sound business acumen, which has served me well in the broader advisory role I undertake. It is a really solid foundation, providing a rounded business education, and is one which our clients recognise and respect. I always advise our new graduates to undertake a CA qualification, because as well as a sound education you receive a qualification that is globally recognised and able to open doors wherever your career might take you.”