Donald McGougan, Director of Finance

As Director of Finance, Donald is responsible for financial strategy and management in the Council, including managing the Council’s £1billion budget and that of its joint boards. Managing the finances of such as large organisation, with its democratic complexities and diverse range of services requires the Director of Finance to skilfully interpret policy and the changing financial needs of the Council.

At a basic level, the Director ensures that the Council’s cash flow and financial resources and debts are well managed. This includes ensuring that all monies due to us are received or recovered, and that creditors and employees are paid according to contractual entitlement, on a timely basis. Donald’s responsibilities cover not just managing income and expenditure but running core services which are provided by over 600 staff. These include:

• managing an internal investment portfolio of £300m, a £70m cash portfolio and a £34m Index-Linked Gilts portfolio
• administration of the city region’s local government pension fund (Lothian Pension Fund), which is one of the largest in the UK, with over 170 associated employers and a scheme membership of over 67,000
• operating a council-wide service for procurement of around £700m worth of goods and services
• being principal adviser to the Council and its committees on financial matters
• being responsible to the Council for the performance of the statutory duties as the proper officer under Section 95 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
• collecting council tax from 465,000 council tax payers and business rates from around 18,000 business in the city
• dealing with at any one time around 40,000 council taxpayers who receive assistance towards payment of their council tax, as well as handling Local Housing Allowance and tackling benefit fraud
• managing the Council’s charitable and trust funds as well as the Council’s  commercial and venture companies
• providing assurance on key areas of risk and related control.

In addition to being the Council’s Director of Finance, Donald is:

• Treasurer of Lothian and Borders Police Board
• Treasurer of Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Board
• Treasurer of Lothian Joint Valuation Board
• a Director of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo Ltd.

Personal profile

• Appointed Depute Director of Finance with City of Edinburgh District Council since 1987
• Became Director of Finance for City of Edinburgh Council in 1996

Director of Finance Current salary (2009/10)

£120,513

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