Catherine Rogers is an Associate Director at Crowe, where she acts as Head of Governance within the Consulting Department. She specialises in advising the public and not-for-profit sectors on a wide range of governance matters and is also part of Crowe’s Special Investigations Unit, which has undertaken numerous high-profile inquiries. Catherine qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2010, following a BSc in Management from DIT.
What made you choose Chartered Accountancy and if you weren’t a Chartered Accountant, what other career path would you have followed?
In school, I always enjoyed the accountancy side of business studies. I found the process of putting a set of accounts together logical and satisfying. If I hadn’t become an accountant, I’m not sure what path I would have taken. At one point, I considered teaching or even studying law, but my interest always came back to accounting.
Can you tell us about your career path and how you got to where you are now?
I began my career training in a small firm, gaining hands-on experience managing jobs and clients from an early stage. Qualifying in 2010 during a challenging job market, I spent a year working in the finance department of a catering company before moving to Edinburgh. There, I joined Lloyds Banking Group, preparing accounts for companies that owned large leased assets such as ships and trains.
I later moved to RBS, working in group reporting on financial statements and budgets. In 2012, an opportunity arose to join the civil service, where I was appointed to the Department of Finance. For nearly three years, I managed the State’s shareholding in AIB – a unique experience after previously working for two banks bailed out by the UK taxpayer.
While at the Department, I contributed to the Banking Inquiry, sparking my interest in understanding crises and what can be learned from them. This ultimately led me to transition into consulting with Crowe.
What do you value most about your membership of the profession, and how do you think these benefits can be used to support the economy and society?
For me, the greatest value lies in professional support – there’s always someone to advise or provide a listening ear. Having the opportunity to discuss economic developments helps the profession proactively address issues. The recent bill to protect the term “Accountant” will only strengthen our role in the future. Every charitable organisation also needs to have some level of input from an accountant, so we do give back a lot on a voluntary basis.
What Institute services have you availed of, and to what extent have you been involved with the Institute?
I have actively pursued professional development, completing diplomas in corporate finance and forensic accounting and investigations. I am also a member of the Charity and Not-for-Profit group, which provides a platform to share insights and address sector challenges.
What career advice would you give to other members based on your own experience?
Don’t be afraid to try something different. When I qualified, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but the qualification opened so many doors. People often underestimate the curiosity and inquisitiveness we develop as accountants. In my current role, that perspective allows me to approach issues through a unique lens.
What achievement are you proudest of in your life to date?
My involvement in the Scoping Inquiry into CervicalCheck is something I’m incredibly proud of. Working with Dr Gabriel Scally was eye-opening and rewarding, and knowing I played a small role in changing how women’s health is viewed is hard to beat. Meeting the women and families affected was both heartbreaking and inspiring.
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