ICAS ICAS logo

Quicklinks

  1. About Us

    Find out about who we are and what we do here at ICAS.

  2. Find a CA

    Search our directory of individual CAs and Member organisations by name, location and professional criteria.

  3. CA Magazine

    View the latest issues of the dedicated magazine for ICAS Chartered Accountants.

  4. Contact Us

    Get in touch with ICAS by phone, email or post, with dedicated contacts for Members, Students and firms.

Login
  • Annual renewal
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Find a CA
  1. About us
    1. Governance
  2. Members
    1. Become a member
    2. Newly qualified
    3. Manage my membership
    4. Benefits of membership
    5. Careers support
    6. Mentoring
    7. CA Wellbeing
    8. More for Members
    9. Area networks
    10. International communities
    11. Get involved
    12. Top Young CAs
    13. Career breaks
    14. ICAS podcast
    15. Newly admitted members 2022
    16. Newly admitted members 2023
  3. CA Students
    1. Student information
    2. Student resources
    3. Learning requirements
    4. Learning updates
    5. Learning blog
    6. Totum Pro | Student discount card
    7. CA Student wellbeing
  4. Become a CA
    1. How to become a CA
    2. Routes to becoming a CA
    3. CA Stories
    4. Find a training agreement
    5. Why become a CA
    6. Qualification information
    7. University exemptions
  5. Employers
    1. Become an Authorised Training Office
    2. Resources for Authorised Training Offices
    3. Professional entry
    4. Apprenticeships
  6. Find a CA
  7. ICAS events
    1. CA Summit
  8. CA magazine
  9. Insight series 2022
    1. Finance + Trust
    2. Finance + Technology
    3. Finance + EDI
    4. Finance + Mental Fitness
    5. Finance + Leadership
    6. Finance + Sustainability
  10. Professional resources
    1. Anti-money laundering
    2. Audit and assurance
    3. Brexit
    4. Charities
    5. Coronavirus
    6. Corporate and financial reporting
    7. Business and governance
    8. Ethics
    9. Insolvency
    10. ICAS Research
    11. Pensions
    12. Practice
    13. Public sector
    14. Sustainability
    15. Tax
  11. CPD - professional development
    1. CPD courses and qualifications
    2. CPD news and updates
    3. CPD support and advice
  12. Regulation
    1. Complaints and sanctions
    2. Regulatory authorisations
    3. Guidance and help sheets
    4. Regulatory monitoring
  13. CA jobs
    1. CA jobs partner: Rutherford Cross
    2. Resources for your job search
    3. Advertise with CA jobs
    4. Hays | A Trusted ICAS CA Jobs Partner
    5. Azets | What's your ambition?
  14. Work at ICAS
    1. Business centres
    2. Meet our team
    3. Benefits
    4. Vacancies
    5. Imagine your career at ICAS
  15. Contact us
    1. Technical and regulation queries
    2. ICAS logo request

Rory Forrest CA on successful performance factors and moving to industry

Photo of Glasgow at night
  • LinkedIn (opens new window)
  • Twitter (opens new window)
By The CA magazine

15 January 2018

About Rory:

  • Holds an accounting degree with the University of Strathclyde.
  • Qualified in 2008 and spent six years with PwC in practice.
  • Moved to audit with Robert Wiseman Plc, followed by Divisional Manager with Farmfoods and now Finance Director with Signature Pub Group.

Rory Forrest CA, Finance Director for Signature Pub Group, qualified as a CA in 2008 with PwC, and spent a further six and a half years with the company in public and private assurance practice. Find out how he has progressed his career, and what advice he has to share.

What did you do after PwC?

As much as I enjoyed my time at PwC, I was keen to find a role where I could genuinely affect the performance of a company. PwC is of such a scale that I found it difficult to really see my input translating into a tangible, value-added output. I believed a role in industry would allow me better visibility as to the fruits of my efforts and an opportunity arose to join Robert Wiseman plc as Head of Internal Audit.

I spent a couple of very insightful years at Wiseman’s, working through its acquisition by the Muller Group and obtaining an in-depth understanding of the business and its processes.

My desire for variety and to be involved in the cut and thrust of business decision making led me to my next role, Divisional Manager, with specialist frozen foods retailer Farmfoods.

A wholly operational role, I was accountable for the performance of 50 Farmfoods retail outlets in Scotland. This was very different to what I was used to, as I was out on the road every week, with direct responsibility for more than 400 staff.

My job at the rapidly growing SME, Signature Pub Group, allows me to use my financial, operational and audit experience, getting involved in literally everything!

I joined Signature Pubs as Finance Director in March 2017. My job at the rapidly growing SME allows me to use my financial, operational and audit experience, getting involved in literally everything! I love the variety the role brings and the satisfaction that comes with being able to directly influence outcomes and the development of the company.

How does being Finance Director compare to your previous roles?

It’s a more senior position in a smaller company so, by definition, involves more accountability. As well as the more traditional FD responsibilities, as part of a small leadership team I am actively involved in strategic decisions across marketing, HR, procurement and operations.

However, there are many similarities between my current and previous roles. I don’t believe the keys to success in this job are significantly different to any management role, with effective communication, teamwork and leadership at the core of successful performance.

How has the CA qualification prepared you for the move from practice to industry?

Really well, and probably better than I had expected. The qualification provides the technical toolkit but you are maybe a little unsure as to what other skills you’ve accumulated over your training contract and any subsequent period in practice. It’s taking that leap of faith.

With confidence in your own abilities, combined with a bit of bravery, I am sure you will be surprised at how resourceful you are, and at how successful you will be.

What are your aims for the next five years?

Five years is a long time away and I honestly don’t know. I am enjoying my current role and it is an exciting time for the company. Assuming this situation continues, I would be delighted to be at Signature Pubs in five years’ time, having played a significant role in its successful and ongoing expansion.


This Q&A is based on Rory’s interview as part of the ICAS Gold Dust Career Insights series.

View on demand

Glasgow skyline

Annie Graham CA on becoming EY's youngest partner

By The CA magazine

27 November 2018

Photo of stock markets

Where I am today: Yusuf Ahmet CA on inspiration and advice

By The CA magazine

16 October 2018

ICAS logo

Footer links

  • Contact us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Privacy notice
  • CA magazine

Connect with ICAS

  • Facebook (opens new window) Facebook Icon
  • Twitter (opens new window) Twitter Icon
  • LinkedIn (opens new window) LinkedIn Icon
  • Instagram (opens new window) Instagram Icon

ICAS is a member of the following bodies

  • Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (opens new window) Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies logo
  • Chartered Accountants Worldwide (opens new window) Chartered Accountants Worldwide logo
  • Global Accounting Alliance (opens new window) Global Accounting Alliance
  • International Federation of Accountants (opens new window) IFAC
  • Access Accountancy (opens new window) Access Acountancy

Charities

  • ICAS Foundation (opens new window) ICAS Foundation
  • SCABA (opens new window) scaba

Accreditations

  • ISO 9001 - RGB (opens new window)
© ICAS 2022

The mark and designation “CA” is a registered trade mark of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), and is available for use in the UK and EU only to members of ICAS. If you are not a member of ICAS, you should not use the “CA” mark and designation in the UK or EU in relation to accountancy, tax or insolvency services. The mark and designation “Chartered Accountant” is a registered trade mark of ICAS, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and Chartered Accountants Ireland. If you are not a member of one of these organisations, you should not use the “Chartered Accountant” mark and designation in the UK or EU in relation to these services. Further restrictions on the use of these marks also apply where you are a member.

ICAS logo

Our cookie policy

ICAS.com uses cookies which are essential for our website to work. We would also like to use analytical cookies to help us improve our website and your user experience. Any data collected is anonymised. Please have a look at the further information in our cookie policy and confirm if you are happy for us to use analytical cookies: