Man who quit college amid audit takes Citizens Advice helm

Published on Tuesday 2 March 2010 00:22

THE former head of a Scottish college who resigned following an investigation into an estimated £20 million funding shortfall has landed a £60,000-a-year job as the head of Citizens Advice Scotland.

Howard McKenzie quit as principal of Jewel and Esk Valley College last April after auditors were called in to investigate its finances.

The college claimed at the time that Mr McKenzie's resignation and the investigation were not linked, pointing out that he had served for eight years and was planning to leave at the end of the last academic year.

Now he has landed a job leading the organisation that advises thousands of Scots on debt, legal matters and welfare. The appointment was made last week and is set to be announced formally this week. A source at the organisation said Mr McKenzie's appointment was a "fantastic move" for Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS).

He added: "He is a very experienced operator with experience of handling large institutions. We're absolutely delighted to have him on board."

As principal and chief executive of Jewel and Esk Valley College, which has campuses in Edinburgh and Dalkeith in Midlothian, McKenzie was involved in a 55m redevelopment of the 9,000-student further education institution.

But the college's finances were the subject of concern and the Scottish Funding Council, which channels Scottish Government funds to colleges and universities, called in auditors in October 2008 to investigate A draft report by the auditors Gardiner & Theobald is understood to have identified a large funding shortfall, which was due to a proposed land deal being put on the back burner because of economic conditions.

Mr McKenzie, who was named Scotland Public Sector Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors in 2007, will succeed outgoing CAS chief executive Kaliani Lyle, who is stepping down after 11 years with the organisation.