Dear Sirs
APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING POSITION
I am a Chartered Accountant (S.A.), who moved to the UK in late 2010 for personal and family
reasons. I have experience of assisting the post-apartheid SA Government reform the financial
management practices of its new local government system between 1995 and 2010 as well as
also being in the forefront in the development and implementation of accounting standards,
specifically IFRS, in the South African public sector.
I had to initially develop a tailored set of accounting standards (Generally Accepted Municipal
Accounting Practices) and later was involved in the transition of these standards to IFRS. I have
also developed IFRS implementation guidelines, training of varying skilled finance officials and
trained non-finance officials on the implications of implementing IFRS. I have also assisted
numerous organisations, mainly in the public sector, fully implement IFRS.
My experience includes working in a Big 4 firm, Deloitte & Touche South Africa, where I was a
partner for 9 years, and thereafter establishing a start-up company (Akhile) in the financial
management services industry. I have developed strong business development and leadership
skills from these experiences and understand the importance of developing and implementing
marketing and business retention strategies to achieve pre-determined and challenging financial
objectives.
I am a confident communicator who is at ease to engage with important stakeholders. My other
strengths include accuracy and attention to detail, good analytic and research skills, the ability to
successfully work within tight deadlines, leading and working with diverse teams and location
flexibility from a working environment perspective.
Since relocating to the UK in October 2010, I have focussed on the hospitality industry, assisting in
the reform of the tied pub industry. This has included research, participation in various political
processes and undertaking ad-hoc consultancy work in the hospitality sector on a self-employed
basis. However, whilst I have found this work interesting, it does not provide sufficient personal
development challenges. I have therefore decided to seek employment in a financial reporting
and/or financial leadership role.
I confirm that I am a British citizen, am available to start immediately and able to work anywhere in
the UK. I am confident that my understanding of IFRS and my ability to design and implement
appropriate accounting processes will add value to your organisation.
Yours faithfully
Alan Yorke
Chartered Accountant (S.A.)
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ALAN YORKE
17 BARKER DRIVE, CAMDEN, LONDON, NW1 0JG
019**-****** +44(0)740-***-**** *******@*****.***
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Chartered Accountant (SA) Former Partner at Deloitte & Touche and Director of own Start-up
Company (Akhile). Career focussed on:-
Implementation of IFRS in local governments and national government entities, including
research on applicability, development of implementation guidelines and training of non-degree
accounting personnel;
Research, development and implementation of international best financial management
practices in South Africa and other African territories, focusing on bridging the gap between
public and private sector best practices;
Development and implementing of turnaround strategies for financially challenged local
governments, including large Metropolitan Cities; and
Business development through marketing, successful management of diverse teams and
stakeholder engagement.
Currently self-employment doing ad-hoc financial and operational assignments mainly focussed on
the UK hospitality industry. I am seeking to strengthen the financial reporting function in a large
corporate company.
KEY SKILLS
IFRS Implementation: Qualified Chartered Accountant (SA) with expertise in
implementing IFRS in the public and private sectors – researched relevance and adaptability,
developed implementation strategies and assisted local governments implement IFRS.
Significant insight into UK accounting procedures and global IFRS application. Engaging with
UK Financial Reporting Council on adherence with IFRS by certain UK listed companies.
Business Development and Other Strategies: Ability to drive business-development
strategies having built a national business unit focusing on local government consulting whilst
at Deloitte and later formed own consulting business (Akhile). Developed support strategies
and delivered programmes for global bodies including the World Bank and various European
government donor-aid agents.
Stakeholder Engagement: Considerable experience of working with a range of highly
influential external stakeholders on a range of key financial management projects, including
cabinet ministers, politicians and high-profile clients. Deploys accomplished public speaking
skills in a wide range of contexts, including presenting at conferences and workshops.
Recently, part of delegation meeting UK Business Innovation & Skills Minister and other
politicians on reforming the tied pub industry.
Leadership: Managed diverse and complex consulting projects with large diverse teams.
Successfully developed and retained talent through effective coaching and mentoring.
Confidently leads progressive training initiatives to culturally and geographically diverse
audiences. Represented and supported organisations in lobbying initiatives around funding
and refinement or clarification of roles and responsibilities.
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CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Self-employed Financial Consultant
2012 – present
Contributor of financial data and research to campaign bodies lobbying for reform of the UK
tied Pub Industry.
Drafted various research papers into the tied pub industry and the self-regulation framework
for campaigning bodies for change. Work has been used by Chair of the All-Party
Parliamentary Save the Pub Group.
Developed financial sustainability evaluation models for evaluating pub opportunities.
Reported to the Financial Reporting Council on the incorrect application of IFRS by listed
companies in the pub industry.
Undertaken an evaluation of the bar operations at a 5-star resort for the Operations Director.
Managed a tied pub tenancy
2011 – 2012
Manager at the Foresters Arms, Forest Row. Reopened previously derelict pub, driving
turnover up to £24,000 per month within 6 months.
Director, Akhile Management & Consulting (Pty) Ltd, Pretoria
2006 – 2010
Founding member of start-up financial management consultancy
Led municipal finance related consulting assignments, driving annual turnover to more than
ZAR 27 million in four years.
Company Secretary and Finance Director.
Deloitte & Touche – Various positions
1984 - 2006
1997 – 2006: Partner, Deloitte & Touche
1994 – 1997: Consulting Manager, Deloitte & Touche
1989 – 1994: Audit Manager, Deloitte & Touche
1984 – 1989: Articles of Clerkship, Deloitte & Touche
SUMMARY EXPERIENCE (TO D E M O N S T R AT E K E Y S K I L L S )
OF
IFRS development and implementation
Oversaw the development and implementation of GRAP (IFRS) alongside draft legislation and
regulations on financial management practices for the SA National Treasury.
Developed pro-forma IFRS complaint specimen municipal annual financial statements as well
as the first specimen consolidated financial statements for municipalities.
Assisted in excess of 40 municipalities implement IFRS, including conversion, IT system
redesign, training and capacitation of municipal officials and annual financial statement
preparation. Included Cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Participated in the preparation of a fully IFRS compliant Fixed Asset Register for the SA Water
Affairs Department. This included componentisation of large scale water infrastructure,
guides for engineering field staff, valuation, residual values and useful life estimation.
Business and strategy development
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Co-authored a study on the State of the Cities Finance Report for SA Cities Network,
published in October 2007.
Led numerous research projects used for lobbying purposes by stakeholders involved in local
government, including the SA Local Government Association.
Participated in the reform of the Namibian Local Government System on behalf of the World
Bank: developed a trust fund tool to support equitable development; calculated a fiscal gap
between allocated responsibilities and priorities versus the ability of Namibian local
governments to finance such responsibilities; and synthesised four separate studies
undertaken on various municipal functions and structures.
Undertook major World Bank funded financial management study, covering nine local authorities
in Malawi and focusing on reforming budget systems, accounting systems, revenue sources,
rating and valuation procedures, financial reporting and control reports to the Ministry of Local
Government to prevent a financial crisis.
Worked with 5 Provincial Governments to manage interventions in approximately 25
municipalities in financial distress; developed short-term and long-term strategies to restore
financial viability.
Undertook numerous studies for SA National Treasury, including designing a Municipal
Financial Management Grant and assisting to pilot a Municipal Restructuring Grant.
Assisted in the design of UK Department for International Development local government
programme (LOGOSUL) in 1999; subsequently appointed as Programme Manager for the
duration of the programme (four years).
Stakeholder Engagement
Advised the SA National Treasury in drafting the Municipal Finance Management Act;
developed six sets of regulations required to be issued by the Minister of Finance.
Presented four papers at an annual conference of the Institute of Municipal Finance
Officers.
Drafted a manual to assist municipal councillors fulfil their financial management responsibilities;
related training courses were delivered to 40 municipalities throughout the country.
CREDENTIALS
Key Qualifications
Chartered Accountant (SA), Public Accountants & Auditors Board
B. Compt (Hons)/CTA, University of South Africa
Professional Memberships & Committees
Member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
Past member of the SAICA Public Sector Committee
Past Member of the Institute of Municipal Finance Officers (IMFO)
Past Council Member of the Institute of Public Finance & Auditing (IPFA)
Past Chair of the Audit Committee of the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism
Hospitality Qualifications
Personal Licence Holder for England and Wales.
BII Certificates in Level 2 Food Safety in Catering, Award in Beer Cellar Quality Management
and Introduction to Licensed Retail Operations.
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