THE Scottish Parliament has chosen Mr Robert Black, controller of audit for the Accounts Commission, to be its financial watchdog.
In his post as Auditor General for Scotland, Mr Black, 52, will have responsibility through the Scottish Parliament for ensuring that all spending bodies achieve the best possible value for money and adhere to the highest standards of financial management.
As Auditor General, he will be independent and not subject to the control of any member of the Scottish Executive or the Parliament.
He will be responsible for securing the audit of the Scottish Executive and most other public sector bodies, except local authorities.
An Aberdeen man, Mr Black was educated at Robert Gordon's College and then Aberdeen University, where he took a degree in economics.
He qualified as a planner at Heriot Watt University and worked in Nottinghamshire County Council, the Corporation of Glasgow and Strathclyde Regional Council.
He was appointed chief executive of Stirling District Council in 1985 and in 1990 became chief executive of Tayside Regional Council.
Mr Black was appointed to his present post in 1995 with responsibilities for auditing and reporting on local government and NHS bodies in Scotland. He is married with four children.
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