Toby qualified as a chartered accountant in 1989 with a firm which is now part of Baker Tilly. After spending time in audit, corporate finance and corporate recovery, Toby moved to Speciality Retail Group becoming its Finance Director between 1996 and 2003, a period of rapid expansion and success for the company. Toby joined Middlesex University in 2003 but continues involvement with private companies through corporate consultancy and advising social enterprises. Toby sits on the board of a social enterprise, is Treasurer of St Matthew's Westminster and parent governor and Chair of Finance at Queens Park Community School.
Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ACA)
Member of the Faculty of Audit & Assurance
Member of the Charity and Voluntary Sector Special Interest Group
Toby's current teaching and learning interests include:
Audit and Assurance: the perceived value of audit; ethical behaviour of auditors; and current models of audit practice.
Financial Analysis and Valuation: equity valuation techniques using the financial statements of entities as the anchor point; investigating the limitations of financial statements and valuation models.
Issues in Financial Accounting: exploring current issues in financial accounting, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.
Toby's current knowledge transfer projects include:
Work experience in the voluntary sector
Toby is working with voluntary organisations and ICAEW to develop work experience opportunities for students in the voluntary sector under the supervision of professionally qualified accountants.
Real business experience for students
Toby has recently introduced "Kitbox" into the University. Originally for secondary schools, Kitbox is an initiative that enables students to take over the contract to supply school uniform to their school. If they win the contract, the students are supported to manage the business. Business support services, including delivery, fulfilment and customer service can be provided by Kitbox, but every aspect of the business is open to the students and profits are shared equally between Kitbox and the school.
Financial reporting and regulation in the voluntary sector
In conjunction with the Diocese of London, Toby is advising on a research project to investigate compliance of more than 450 churches in the London area.
