Time to Talk: Lessons learnt from the University of Dundee Investigation (FD/CFO only)

Lessons learnt from the University of Dundee Investigation

Friday 3 October 2025

10:00 - 11:00 (the session may be extended slightly should the Q&A require it)

(Please note this session is for CFOs/FDs only, and will not be recorded)

We are delighted to have arranged a session on lessons learnt to be delivered by James Aston, who Headed the Investigation Team.  James will be joined by Matthew Tait (a BR partner in BDO) who led the financial side of the investigation. James and Matthew will deliver an interactive session on lessons learnt following their investigation into the University of Dundee and the issue of report to the Scottish Funding Council.  They will focus on the issues from a CFO / DoF perspective.

BDO is also running a session (James Aston and Pamela Gillies) at 9am on 23 September – this is being delivered to a wider audience of Governors, University Secretaries and DoFs - Lessons learnt from the University of Dundee Investigation.  While there is a large overlap, the focus and range of questions is likely to differ.

SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES

James Aston MBE, Partner, National Head of Education BDO

James leads BDO’s Education Group and has worked in the sector for over 30 years. He oversees BDO’s services, which range from external and internal audit to due diligence, forensic investigations and tax (and everything in between). James and his team have exceptional experience across regulatory compliance (OfS, ESFA and DfE), change of ownership, governance and management, and are often engaged on ‘difficult’ matters.

Following four years’ service (2018-2022), James recently stood down as a member of Ofsted’s Audit and Risk Committee and has previously been a member of both HEFCE's Audit Committee and the Training & Development Agency’s Audit Committee.  James has been audit partner to 30 HEIs.  He is widely recognised as a sector expert in governance, funding and data, and frequently acts as an adviser to government departments and agencies across education. In 2002 he was honoured with an MBE for Services to education and charity management.

Matthew Tait, Partner BDO

Matthew leads the Business Restructuring Public Sector & Not for Profit team, specialising in education advisory. He has acted as adviser to the OfS, DfE, Lenders and Board’s in both confidential and public engagements.

His experience encompasses the full spectrum of restructuring services from institution transformation to formal insolvency. In that later regard he was the Joint Education Administrator of both Hadlow and West Kent colleges (which undertook HE provision) appointed by the Secretary of State under the Technical & Further Education Act, a possible template for a special administration regime for HE. Matthew’s work is recognised as providing the template for reviewing and implementing restructuring and transformation activities, stakeholder engagement and the assessment of the impact of market exit.

If you have a query regarding your booking, please contact matt@bufdg.ac.uk