David Green
Head of Consultancy

David joined Sterling Consultancy Services as senior local government consultant in January 2008 to train and advise clients on all aspects of treasury management, capital finance and accounting. David was appointed Head of Sterling Consultancy Services in May 2011 to expand and develop the company’s range of products and to widen the client base.

After gaining a PhD from Reading University, David worked as a Treasury Manager in the private sector for five years managing the cash flows and banking activities of a large business in the leisure industry. He joined West Sussex County Council as Treasury Manager in 2003, managing debt and investment portfolios totalling over £500 million for the County Council and the Police Authority.

After completing his CIPFA professional accountancy qualification, David was appointed Principal Accountant, and after a short spell in Children’s Services, moved back to Corporate Finance to oversee treasury management, capital finance, tax compliance, corporate budget monitoring and accounting system improvements. In addition to his accountancy qualification, David holds the Association of Corporate Treasurers’ AMCT Diploma and writes exam questions for the CIPFA/ACT qualification in public sector treasury management.

Samantha Mackenzie-Carmichael
Consultant

Sam joined Sterling Consultancy Services in May 2011 as a local government treasury consultant. Sam was previously Assistant Vice President at Barclays Capital, where she structured and executed bespoke debt and investment products for the UK local authority sector. She has an in-depth understanding of the risk management and pricing of structured deposits and loans, including lender’s option borrower’s option “LOBO” loans, having restructured a range of local authority treasury portfolios.

Sam started her career at Cornwall Council in 2001, where she qualified as an Accounting Technician, progressing to Treasury Manager in 2006 with responsibilities including the management of a £500m debt portfolio and a £350m investment portfolio, together with the associated statutory reporting and accounting duties.

Sam also holds qualifications in regulation, securities and derivatives from the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investment.

Nick Keeling
Consultant

Nicholas joined Sterling Consultancy Services as a local government consultant in 2006 and advises clients on economic theory, debt and investment management, accountancy and the regulatory framework. He also delivers training courses for the officers and elected members of local authorities.

After graduating from Durham University with an honours degree in Business Finance, Nick worked for a short period in the private sector before moving into local government. He worked first at Lancashire County Council, before joining Gloucestershire County Council in 2003, where he managed investment and debt portfolios of over ?600 million. During his time as treasury manager he streamlined treasury function procedures, implemented risk management techniques and improved analysis and reporting. He also administered and designed several financial information systems, experience he now uses to develop analysis tools for our clients.

Nick is an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and holds a Certificate in Investments. He is currently studying for his final ACCA exam.

Christopher Jones
Consultant

Chris joined Sterling Consultancy Services in August 2011 as a local government treasury consultant following eight years in Finance at Surrey County Council. Chris initially joined Surrey as a trainee accountant, completing a number of placements including treasury management, while studying for the CIPFA professional accountancy qualification.

During the final stage of qualification, Chris was appointed to the role of Accountant within the financial accounting and analysis team, where he prepared the Council's medium term plan and financial strategy while continuing to provide regular cover for the treasury management function.

In August 2007, Chris was appointed as the Senior Accountant within the pension fund and treasury team and was responsible for managing investment and debt portfolios totalling £300 million and accounting for the award-winning £2.1 billion Surrey Pension Fund. During this time, he reorganised banking and investment arrangements and implemented IFRS accounting for financial instruments and the pension fund.

Martin Upton
Consultant

Martin is currently Head of the Centre for Financial Management at the Open University Business School where he main teaching and research interests are financial markets, treasury management and balance sheet risk management. Previously he worked for seventeen years in the financial services industry, including twelve years as Treasurer of the Nationwide Building Society. Prior to that Martin worked in local government (Coventry City Council) and higher education (University of Aston and Leeds Polytechnic).

Martin holds a BA in Economics and an MA and MPhil in Modern Economic History, and joined Sterling Consultancy Services on a part-time basis in March 2007. Martin is a member of CIPFA's Treasury Management Panel and regularly undertakes external presentations on treasury and financial markets issues.

Dot Ching-Poh Kuan
Compliance Director

Dot has extensive experience in financial services since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Baker Tilly in 1978. She joined Sterling in 2001 and was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2006.

In her role as Compliance Director, Dot has overall responsibility for ensuring that all services are provided in accordance with FSA regulations, which includes overseeing the operation of the company’s Chinese walls.

Gary Prince
Finance

Gary qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) in 1996 whilst working for a small accountancy practice in Central London. He then moved into the commercial sector working as an accounts manager for a Nissan dealership before contracting in the Accounting Services Division for Rawlinson & Hunter. He became a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accounts (FCCA) in 2001 before spending seven years as an Assistant Controller for Archer Daniels Midland in Erith. He joined Sterling as Financial Controller in 2009.

Stacey Coney
Administration

Stacey has been with Sterling since January 2005 and undertakes much of the provision of client data and administrative support. Stacey previously worked as a Secretary in a city law firm for two years.