Robert Black (auditor)

Robert William Black CBE FRSE FRSS FRSA is a former public administrator who was the first Auditor General for Scotland, holding the post between 2000 and 2012.

Robert William Black

CBE FRSE FRSS FRSA
Auditor General for Scotland
In office
February 2000 – June 2012
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
Preceded byInaugural holder
Succeeded byCaroline Gardner
First MinisterDonald Dewar MSP (2000)
First MinisterHenry McLeish MSP (2000 to 2001)
First MinisterJack McConnell MSP (2001 to 2007)
First MinisterAlex Salmond MSP (2007 to 2014)
Personal details
Alma materUniversity of Aberdeen

Early life and education

Black was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire.[1] He studied at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with an honours MA degree in economics, then gained a MSc degree in town planning from Heriot-Watt University, and a master's degree in public policy from University of Strathclyde.

Career

Black was a local authority chief executive for 10 years, first with Stirling District Council 1985−90, then with Tayside Regional Council 1990−95.

He became Controller of Audit with the Accounts Commission in 1995, and was the first person to hold the position who was not an accountant.[2] In May 1999, the Scottish Parliament voted to nominate a person to become the first Auditor General for Scotland.[3] Parliament's choice was approved by the Queen, and Black was appointed to the post in February 2000. He was also the chief executive of Audit Scotland. In October 2011 he announced that he would retire from Audit Scotland.[4] In March 2012, the Scottish Parliament decided that Caroline Gardner should succeed him.[5]

in June 2012, he was appointed to the board of the British Library for a four-year term,[6] and chairs their public audit committee.[7] He is a member of the University Court at the University of Edinburgh.[8]

He is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society.[9]

Honours and awards

He has an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Aberdeen in 2004,[1] then an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Queen Margaret University in 2006.[2] He is an Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.[9]

He received a CBE in the 2012 New Year Honours.[10]

References
  1. "Honorary Graduands - Summer 2004" (Press release). University of Aberdeen. 5 July 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  2. "Scotland's Auditor General awarded honorary degree" (Press release). Queen Margaret University. 10 July 2006. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  3. Stokdyk, John (31 May 1999). "Scotland - Black set to be auditor general". Accountancy Age. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  4. "Auditor General Robert Black announces his retirement". BBC News. 6 October 2011.
  5. Aitken, Keith (30 March 2012). "Gardner set to become auditor general for Scotland". Public Finance. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  6. "The British Library: appointment of a new Part-time Board Member" (PDF) (Press release). Department for Culture, Media and Sport. July 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  7. "About Us: Governance: British Library Board: Chairman and members of the Board: Dr Robert Black CBE". British Library. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  8. "University Court: Membership :Information about Members of the University Court: 2015-2016: Dr Robert Black". University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  9. "Robert Black biographical notes" (PDF). Audit Scotland. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  10. "Honours: Order of the British Empire, Civil - GBE, DBE, CBE". The Independent. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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