Local Government Reorganisation: CIPFA's template to support the presentation of financial information — a practical discussion

John is a highly experienced business manager and management consultant with over 30 years experience in both the private and public sectors, now leading CIPFA’s advisory practice. Recently John has helped shape and drive a major cost reduction UK wide programme for police sector, Achieving Finance Excellence in Policing. He has acted as the commercial adviser to numerous forces including the Met Police on their successful outsourcing of their back office functions and also was a key part of the team responsible for the development of their commercial strategy to 2020. John has also worked for large civil service departments and every type of local authority in the UK.

Simon leads on CIPFA’s advisory support on financial management and financial resilience across public services. Currently leading on the Advisory Support for Local Government Reorganisation and on our work with MHCLG on exceptional financial support influencing and informing on the best ways to help councils in financial distress. Former Joint Director of Finance and Business Services (S151 Officer) for Derbyshire Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service. Simon has over 30 years experience in working with and in a wide range of public sector organisations in challenging financial, governance, reorganisation and performance improvement roles.

Theresa is a career public servant with over 40 years’ experience in Local Government in both Ireland and the UK. She has spent several of these years seconded to other roles including the Commonwealth Games Organisation and has previous experience as a NED of a FTSE 250 Investment Company.

Theresa is currently Chief Executive at Northamptonshire County Council and Strategic Delivery Director for the Future Northants Programme, delivering two Unitary Councils for April 2021 and a Children’s Trust. Prior to this, she was the CEO of Trafford MBC from 2011 and Accountable Officer for the CCG, as well as Lead CEO for Employment & Skills portfolio for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) region, and lead for the GM Procurement Hub.

Theresa is an Ambassador for the Halle Orchestra based in Manchester.

Sharon is an experienced programme director and senior consultant with proven success of working on complex, high profile, corporate wide business transformation and local government reorganisation. Sharon is skilled in diagnostics, programme strategy, set up and design, change management, systems architecture, culture change, stakeholder management and supporting organisations in delivering large scale programmes with significant benefits realisation. Sharon has worked across the public sector including local government at over 35 unitary, metropolitan, city and county councils, housing, NHS, education and children’s trust set up.