Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy

NSF Profiles

Jane Cika, NSF Chair 2010/11
I joined the NSF after attending the NSF Conference in Reading in 2007. The conference had an excellent programme and the speakers made lasting impressions on me. I have been working for Waltham Forest Council since December 2006 when I started as a Graduate Trainee Accountant and I now hold a substantive post in Childrens' Services Finance Team.

I helped to re-establish the South East Region's Student Society and served as its Chair until April 2010, when I stepped down. I felt when I joined the NSF that it was really important for every region to be well represented by a regional society who can offer support and arrange events to meet the needs of the students in their region.

I studied at CETC South East and passed my final exams in June 2010, so I am now trying to complete my IPDS.

I have been very lucky that my employer has encouraged and supported me through my exams and in volunteering for the NSF and my regional student society.

I would like to ensure that all students feel that they can raise issues that they have with either their regional society or directly with the NSF. If you have any concerns or would like to get in touch please email us at nsf@cipfa.org.uk

Carl Ford, Vice-Chair 2010/11
I joined the NSF in 2009 after visiting the NSF Conference in Manchester, I learned a lot of valuable study tips that day from an excellent speaker on mind mapping and speed reading. I wanted to be part of the NSF so that I could help arrange future events for students, and hopefully enrich their student experience. This is also the reason why I helped re-establish the Midlands, and I was Chair of the regional society until August 2010. Being part of both these student bodies added so much value to be student experience, both talking to peers about module related issues and also establishing a vital network of contacts - which will be invaluable in the future.

I work for Birmingham City Council in the Strategy & Commissioning Finance Team, a job that is very challenging, but my CIPFA studies have definitely given more the required skills and knowledge to meet these challenges. I am very privileged to have an employer who not only supports my studies, but also my participation in student events, acknowledging that this is a vital part of CIPFA student life.

In my spare time (?) I like relaxing with a film, or listening to music, watching Rugby and increasingly less frequently watching football. When I get the chance I also enjoy DJing at local Bars and Pubs. Email - carl.ford@birmingham.gov.uk

Chris Roach, Past Chair
I joined the NSF in January 2006 after seeing an advert looking for volunteers from the South West. I am based in Bristol and have been working for Grant Thornton in public sector audit since January 2005.

I studied at CETC South-West. I am lucky in that my employer provides a lot of support for my time at college but by serving as Past Chair with the NSF, I want to try to make sure that all CIPFA students have their issues represented. Please feel free to drop me an email - chris.roach@gtuk.com

Alastair JB McMillen
I’m a Trainee Accountant at the City of Edinburgh Council, currently undertaking the Final Test of Professional Competence stage of the CIPFA qualification. Northern Irish by birth, I moved to Scotland to study at the University of Edinburgh, where I read Astrophysics as an undergraduate before undertaking a Master's degree in Image Processing and Remote Sensing. I then embarked on a career in IT project management for the City of Edinburgh Council before realising my true calling as an accountant in 2008 and enrolling in the Council's CIPFA training scheme.

I’m a member of the CIPFA Scottish Student Society Executive Committee and act as liaison to the National Student Forum. Now approaching the end of the qualification, I’m looking forward to reclaiming some of my free time, of which a possibly unhealthy amount is spent hitting other people with swords. When not fencing, studying, working or volunteering for CIPFA, I sometimes find time to sleep. Email - alastair.mcmillen@edinburgh.gov.uk

Nicola Woods
I work for the Northern Ireland Audit Office in Belfast, predominately in our Financial Audit division on central government audits but I have also been on secondment in Value for Money.
Before the NIAO, I worked for KPMG in London in their Forensic department doing specialist legal work on Intellectual Property issues. I moved back to Belfast last year to get married and took the decision to pursue a public sector career and gain the CIPFA professional accountancy qualification. Prior to KPMG, I studied Law and Accountancy at Queen’s University Belfast while on the Deloitte Scholarship programme (based in the Glasgow office).

Mo Amin
My name is Mohammed Shakeel Amin and I’ve been a member of the NSF for approximately four months. Before joining the NSF, I was and currently am an active member of North West North Wales Student Forum. I have spent the majority of my academic life involved with student societies in order to produce better outcomes for students. I have also enjoyed a lot of benefits from joining student societies, from personal to professional development which will all help toward enhancing my career. My hobbies include football, cricket, weight training, snooker and socializing with friends. I am a qualified sports coach with national accreditations in Football and Cricket. I hope to meet new people at the NSF and I hope you’ll all get involved.