Cliff is a qualified CIPFA accountant and shared service practitioner. He is CIPFA's Head of Networks, representing the institute and shaping policy voice, position statements and speaking at events on local government and transformation issues. Cliff has also worked for 20 years in local government.

Email: cliff.dalton@cipfa.org

Tel: 01904 671938

His work experience ranges from chief accountant within East Yorkshire council's corporate finance function, to devolved finance lead for several service departments, including highways, planning, leisure and commercial services. Cliff has also led the CCT outsourcing strategy on both blue and white collar areas for East Yorkshire and Hull City Council.

Cliff has a keen interest in training and helped develop a number of Hull's member and officer finance induction programs while working at the council. He is also a registered lecturer with Hull University and has delivered a number of finance and management modules as part of its Criminal Justice HNC qualification.

In 2003 Cliff moved to CIPFA to help build upon its commercial aspirations. He was one of the three founder members of CIPFA's Finance Advisory Network (FAN), which was created to help authorities during their early Best Value years, post-CCT. Shortly after becoming a FAN advisor, Cliff would go on to lead the Police Finance Network, before helping to launch several other advisory services, including its performance improvement and funding advisory service in 2008. By 2010 Cliff managed all of CIPFA's commercial networks operating out of the institute's London office. 

Cliff now heads CIPFA's Local Government Faculty, covering both policy and commercial activities. He is also CIPFA's lead on income generation, efficiency plans and service transformation, launching the institute's Transformation Hub in 2015. He continues to work closely with local authority practitioners through his membership of CIPFA's Yorkshire and Humber Regional Executive Committee. He became a fellow of the institute in 2016.