Winter 2002 - National Rifle Association

INTRODUCINGPHILIPCURRIENRA TREASURERby Tony de LaunayTreasurers need to have an air of financial competenceand acumen about them to instil confidence,particularly with the optics of the NRA financial crisisstill on the shelf. They are the watchdogs who, withproper financial controls in the system, are responsiblefor the checks and balances of the organisation toensure that income and expenditure are properlymanaged by the executives who do the day to dayrunning of the business.This is what Philip Currie should bring to the NRAwith his clear track record of financial managementand company secretarial activities, derived frombanking, real estate management, and consultancyservices. Just turned 56, his early career spannedtraining for the Royal Marines, qualifying as achartered accountant and gaining a MBA. Twentytwoyears with Barclays Bank followed, in which heworked in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Australiabefore returning to the UK and international privatebanking. He then spent eight years at BarclaysProperty Holdings before his current appointment asFinance Director and Company Secretary withMcBains Cooper plc, providing multi-disciplinaryconsultancy services to the property and constructionindustry.What, then, does he see as his key tasks in this nonexecutiverole in an organisation with a hefty overdraftand a membership base that is not growing as perhapsit should? “My first task is critical. Despite being acharity the NRA is also a business and I have to overseethe financial controls of the NRA and make sure thatCouncil is aware of any concerns or shortcomings. I22have to ensure that sound business principles andfinancial management are practised”.“I will be there to provide support to the day to dayoperational management. The focal point of mycontact will be the Finance and General PurposesCommittee, to whom I can offer the experience of myfinancial and business skills”. He is acutely awarethat the National Shooting Centre is the NRA’sprincipal investment. “It is imperative that I have anactive understanding of the affairs of that business - itgoes without saying that poor investment performancewill materially impinge upon the NRA”.It is perhaps a precious advantage that he will bringwith him none of the baggage of any previousassociation with Bisley. As he says, “Myindependence is a key attribute, but there is going tobe a steep learning curve. I have no preconceived ideasbut, as a former Royal Marine, I have a very realempathy with the sport - extending to being amarksman in my day!” However, marksmanship isnot what is on offer to the organisation; his soundfinancial and business experience should be of muchgreater value in the recovery to come.The Bisley PavilionHotelatBisley Camp, Brookwood, Wokinghome of theNational Rifle AssociationEn-suite RoomsTelevisionBreakfastNOW OPENHOTEL FACILITIESIN THE HEART OFTHE CAMPFor Reservations & EnquiriesTel: (01483) 488488/489270Fax: (01483) 797620e-mail: Hotel@bisleypavilion.com