The Team

David Blake

David Blake

Director

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David joined Arlingclose as Client Director in October 2010.

He has over 20 years’ experience of providing treasury advice and support to local government officers and Members including debt management and investment management advice.

David is responsible for client advisory services at Arlingclose. He also leads the debt management team and has a proactive role in the analysis of interest rate movements and forecasts, with an emphasis on the formulation and implementation of debt management strategies. Current projects include managing iDealTrade.net, an automated “Local to Local” matching platform, renegotiating LOBO terms and developing alternative funding products. He also provides advice and support on PFI refinancing as well as credit rating advisory services.

He has completed and passed the CIPFA/ACT Certificate in International Treasury Management – Public Finance.

David has been providing treasury management consultancy services to public sector clients since 1997. He was Assistant Director at Butlers Treasury Consultancy where he managed several client accounts and was a regular speaker at training events and seminars on treasury management issues. These included Council Member briefings covering debt and investment risk management and the Local Government Finance regulatory framework.

Sara Cota

Sara Cota

Senior Client Executive

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Sara joined Arlingclose in October 2021 and is currently a Senior Client Executive. Her role focuses on managing client relationships, and providing investment and credit advice.

Sara’s responsibilities include supporting client investment and debt portfolios, as well as providing assistance with delivering strategy meeting. Regularly producing and distributing financial and other updates to clients and upkeeping content on the Arlingclose website. She has a key role organising client workshops, distributing publications, and compiling Arlingclose’s list of recommended Money Market Funds.

In addition to her regular advisory duties, Sara is a member of the Credit and Pooled Funds team, producing monthly recommendations on credit instruments, including covered and supranational bonds. This also involves regularly reviewing and distributing Cash Plus Fund updates.

Sara graduated from the University of Sussex in 2021 with a BSc (Hons) in Economics (2:1)

Laura Fallon

Laura Fallon

Client Director

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Laura is a CPFA accountant and joined Arlingclose in April 2013.

She is a client facing executive; her role includes providing advice on debt and investment strategies, providing assistance with technical accounting issues, producing clients’ balance sheet analysis and liability benchmarks, assisting clients in their compliance with regulations and in report writing. Laura attends client strategy meetings and oversees a number of client relationships. She is also the firm’s Compliance Officer and is responsible for ensuring that all relevant FCA requirements are met.

Laura is part of the Technical Team and assists with due diligence reviews, capital finance options appraisals, minimum revenue provision and financial instrument closedown issues. She presents a number of Arlingclose workshops and webcasts.

Starting in 2007, Laura worked for five years at the Metropolitan Police Service, where she completed her CIPFA studies. During her time there she worked in management accounting, financial accounting and project teams. She has experience of year end closure of accounts. Laura graduated from Imperial College London with a BSc (Hons) in Physics.

David Green

David Green

Director

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David commenced employment with Arlingclose as Client Director in October 2012.

He is a CIPFA qualified accountant and is a Fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.

David is the strategic lead on Arlingclose’s approach to investment strategy and credit risk management, ensuring clients earn a suitable risk-adjusted investment income while remaining within their risk appetite.

He is also a key member of Arlingclose’s technical team, maintaining our key relationships with CIPFA and DLUHC. He writes and delivers our annual workshops on investment strategy and accounts closedown.

David is a regular speaker at external conferences and blogs on treasury management issues on www.Room151.co.uk.

Previously, David worked in the private sector for five years as a treasury manager where he managed the cash flows and banking activities of a large leisure business. He then joined West Sussex County Council as Treasury Manager where he completed his CIPFA professional accountancy qualification. David joined Sterling Consultancy Services in 2008 and in 2011 was promoted to Head of Consultancy before moving to Arlingclose the following year.

Mark Pickering

Mark Pickering

CEO

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Having joined in September 2004, Mark is a founding Director of Arlingclose’s Treasury Advisory Services.

He began his financial career on the Sterling Inter-bank desk at money broker Tullett & Tokyo, gaining broad experience in UK fixed income products, swaps and other derivatives. In 1997, Mark joined Integer Treasury Services, where he progressed to become a senior member of what became the Sector Treasury Services Team as Assistant Director.

He has over 25 years treasury advisory experience including financial modelling, developing debt and risk management strategies, and creating bespoke investment portfolios reflecting client’s risk appetite and preferences, ensuring clients’ compliance with CIPFA’s Prudential and Treasury Codes.

He is a principal member of the Arlingclose interest rate forecasting team.

Amar Jandoo

Amar Jandoo

Client Director

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Amar joined the Arlingclose team in February 2014 as Client Executive.

Her primary role consists of managing client relationships through attending strategy meetings and maintaining regular contact with officers to assist with day to day treasury decisions. Amar also delivers a number of different client workshops and training events to both officers and members.

As a member of both the Credit Team and the Funds Team, she is also responsible for reviewing the credit quality of individual counterparties and pooled funds on an ongoing basis and approving these for recommendation to clients. As well as continued monitoring, Amar also meets with these institutions regularly in order to maintain the relationship.

Amar is a key member of the client advisory team and has assisted on and delivered a number of bespoke services such as investment appraisal reports and sourcing alternative funding products from financial institutions.

She is also responsible for the management of tenders for both existing and potential client contracts.

Amar graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics for Finance and Management. Amar also holds a Level 3 CISI Certificate in Securities.

Stuart Jones

Stuart Jones

Assistant Client Director

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Stuart joined Arlingclose in October 2016. Stuart’s role comprises managing client relationships to assist with managing investment balances and sourcing debt solutions. As a member of the debt team, Stuart provides advice on sources and composition of clients debt within their prudential limits.

He provides training and advice through strategy meetings and workshops to assist clients with managing their investment balances and how best to allocate funds to manage each clients position. This includes maintaining relationships with market providers like money market funds to facilitate the investment process. Stuart created the fund correlation model used to assist clients with pooled fund asset allocation decisions.

Stuart also works closely with the consultancy team as one of the lead financial modellers. He has been instrumental in the development of credit analysis of unrated companies and SPVs for investment and recovery purposes.

Stuart is also a member of the Interest Rate forecasting team and regularly writes economic updates for clients.

Stuart graduated from Swansea University with an MSc in Financial Management, after completing a BSc in Economics. Stuart previously worked in the accounts department at Charge Automotive.

Phiroza Katrak

Phiroza Katrak

Client Director

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Phiroza joined Arlingclose in April 2005 as Client Director.

She has been providing treasury advice and support to local government officers and members since 1992.

Phiroza oversees a number of long-standing client relationships, providing advice and support to officers and members on treasury strategy, implementation and risk management. She advises on bespoke debt and investment opportunities, credit policies, and compliance with Prudential and Treasury Management Codes and Investment Guidance  and treasury ESG policies and strategy. She also delivers Arlingclose’s client (officer and member) workshops.

She is a member of the Arlingclose interest rate forecasting team and also of the investment group analysing and assessing pooled investment schemes and maintaining contact with investment fund managers.

Phiroza passed the CIPFA/ACT Certificate in International Treasury Management – Public Finance in April 2010.

Phiroza joined Integer Treasury Services as Treasury Advisor in 1992. Following Integer’s absorption into Sector Treasury Services in 1997, she also had a key role in formulating local authority credit and counterparty policies and investment strategies. She provided the ODPM with valuable input on their draft and final Guidance on Investments during the development of the Prudential Framework and played a key role thereafter in assisting local authorities in establishing individual investment strategies. As Assistant Director at Sector she was responsible for managing client relationships, as well as advising on debt, investment and credit strategies. Phiroza graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Bombay reading Accountancy and Economics.

Nicholas Keeling

Nicholas Keeling

Strategic Director

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Nicholas joined Arlingclose in October 2012, having previously worked at Sterling Consultancy Services since 2006.

He is an ACCA qualified accountant and an Associate Member of the CISI.

He is responsible for advising clients on treasury risk management, the financial market environment and investment and debt opportunities. Nicholas manages the relationships of a number of long-standing local authority clients and is the lead for Arlingclose’s financial institution clients.

One of Nicholas’s responsibilities is the development of the team’s economic view and the production of forecasts and regular commentaries, analysis and reviews. He has been instrumental in the development of investment opportunities, arranging group investments in housing associations and covered bonds, and has also assisted clients in prepaying over £1bn of private sector loans, including LOBOs. He writes and delivers training courses, particularly with regard to elected member training, and regularly presents webcasts.

Nicholas has previously worked at both Gloucestershire and Lancashire County Councils. At Gloucestershire he managed treasury portfolios totalling £600m.

Stephen Kelly

Stephen Kelly

Leasing Associate

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Stephen joined Arlingclose in June 2010 as Leasing Director to provide independent leasing advice to clients.

He has 38 years’ experience in all aspects of leasing, vendor finance, asset and capital financing.

Stephen leads the Arlingclose Leasing Advisory service by undertaking strategic options appraisal to determine the most cost-effective means of financing capital assets and initially assess whether leasing or other asset funding options are financially viable. Stephen provides comprehensive support for any leasing tender process which includes review and revision of asset finance and leasing contract documentation. Importantly, he also provides clients with advice and assistance to achieve revenue savings through effective end of lease negotiations with banks and lessors. 

Stephen has held senior positions in various global banking and financial institutions including Lombard Nat West, HSBC, GE Capital, Rabobank and CIT. He has worked as a specialist public sector leasing /asset finance advisor and consultant with Capita Asset Services and he has also worked with Dell EMEA advising and developing their European public sector financing of tech assets.

Stephen has the Finance and Leasing Association Diploma qualification; a BA in Business and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Manchester Business School (The University of Manchester).

Stephen Kitching

Stephen Kitching

Consultancy Director

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Stephen joined Arlingclose as Assistant Client Director in May 2014.

He has a decade of experience in Treasury, investment management and accounting.

Stephen manages client relationships, providing comprehensive advice and support for officers and Members on treasury policy, debt and investment strategies, MRP policy, compliance with the CIPFA Prudential and Treasury Management Codes and the accounting Code of Practice.

As a member of the Housing Team, Stephen leads on the arrangement of funding for Registered Providers.

Stephen is also a member of the Credit and Technical teams, helping to formulate Arlingclose’s investment and accounting advice.

Stephen has also developed and leads Arlingclose’s offering for transactional banking advice.

After beginning his career in Sales and Public Relations, Stephen spent five years at the London Borough of Hackney, gaining detailed and extensive experience in Treasury, Banking, Pensions and Accounting before joining Arlingclose.

Stephen graduated from Balliol College, Oxford University with a BA (Hons) in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History.

Perry Marshom

Perry Marshom

Assistant Client Director

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Perry joined Arlingclose in November 2018 as a Client Executive.

He is now a key member of Arlingclose’s consultancy team with a focus on state aid (UK subsidy rules), providing interest rate advice, performing due diligence on counterparties and local authority investment advice. Perry also calculates fair values and expected credit losses for the financial year end.

He helps with maintaining client investment and debt profiles and support with preparing strategy meeting packs; conducting quarterly investment and money market fund benchmarking and balance sheet/liability benchmarking.

Perry also regularly writes economic updates for clients and weekly economic commentaries.

Perry graduated from the University of Bath in 2018 with a BSc (Hons) in Economics with placement. Placement was undertaken as a Technical Processor at Independent Broking Solutions Ltd, an authorised Lloyds of London insurance broker.

Philip Pickering

Philip Pickering

Director of Administration

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Philip has supported the Arlingclose team since October 2008.

Philip supervises the company’s administrative activities.

Greg Readings

Greg Readings

Client Director

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Greg joined Arlingclose in February 2010 as Client Executive.

He is responsible for a wide range of client relationships and has a proactive role in advising clients on treasury management issues, with a particular focus on investment strategies. He both leads and supports these relationships at regular client strategy meetings as well as being an important day-to-day contact for many clients.

Greg’s investment specialism is reflected in the sub-teams he is a member of, being a key part of Arlingclose’s Credit, Pooled Funds and Interest Rate Forecasting teams. As part of these teams Greg has strategic involvement in the development and delivery of credit advice; analysis, monitoring and recommendation of a range of asset classes and collective investment funds; and the formulation of both short and long-term interest rate forecasts.

He is one of the primary contacts on the Asset Management industry and regularly meets with Fund Managers, Rating Agencies and other key industry participants. His focus is on longer-dated, strategic Fund opportunities and he also oversees Arlingclose’s advice on Money Market Funds, having spent over five years as the main contact on MMFs.

Greg helps deliver Arlingclose’s treasury management workshop programme and Elected Member training service. He also supports Arlingclose’s Leasing Advisory services, providing strategic leasing advice to a range of clients.

Greg spent a year at HM Treasury, working as an Assistant Economist having and graduated from the University of Surrey with a BSc (Hons) in Business Economics with Computing.

Paul Roberts

Paul Roberts

Client Director

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Paul joined Arlingclose as Assistant Client Director in September 2017 

He is a CFA Charterholder with over 20 years’ experience in the financial services sector including 10 years providing treasury advice and support to local authorities giving investment, debt management and debt restructuring advice 

Responsibilities: Paul advises both professional and retail clients as well as sitting on the Interest Rate, Credit, and Pooled Funds teams. He also undertakes the bank ‘bail-in’ analysis and the credit assessment of housing associations and local authorities. 

Paul helped to devise the fund correlation model used to assist clients with pooled fund asset allocation decisions 

Career history: Paul began his financial services career at Sector Treasury Services, providing debt and investment advice to a range of local authority clients. He was also a member of Sector’s Interest Rate Strategy Group, helping devise the in-house Bank Rate and gilt yield/PWLB interest rate forecasts. Paul continued to work extensively with local authorities and other public sector bodies after moving to Santander UK in 2008, holding a variety of positions over nine years. Before his career in finance, Paul worked for a FTSE 100 engineering company and graduated from the University of Bristol with an MSc in Economics. 

Joseph Scott-Soane

Joseph Scott-Soane

Assistant Client Director

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Joseph joined Arlingclose in February 2020 and is an Assistant Client Director. His role focuses on providing investment and credit advice, managing client relationships, and delivering strategy meetings and training workshops.

In addition to his regular advisory duties, Joseph is a member of the Credit, Housing Association, and Pooled Funds teams. This includes producing Arlingclose’s UK bank ‘bail-in’ analysis, assessing the creditworthiness of housing associations, and conducting ad-hoc investment due diligence. As part of the Funds Team, Joseph reviews longer-term strategic fund opportunities and serves as the main contact for Money Market Fund relationship management.

Joseph’s responsibilities also encompass coordinating benchmarking exercises, such as quarterly investment and annual debt benchmarking. He frequently delivers strategy meetings covering economic, investment, and debt advice to clients and produces and conducts treasury training for elected members.

Joseph graduated from Bournemouth University in 2019 with a BA (Hons) in Economics (2:1). Before joining Arlingclose, he worked for five months as an Accounts Assistant at a cyber security recruitment company in Central London.

Mark Swallow

Mark Swallow

Director

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Mark joined Arlingclose as Client Director in October 2010.

He is a CIPFA qualified accountant with over 25 years of local government finance experience.

Mark is responsible for managing and maintaining client relationships, providing advice and support for officers and Members on all aspects of treasury policy, debt and investment strategies, MRP policy, compliance with the CIPFA Prudential and Treasury Management Codes and the accounting Code of Practice. He also provides accounting advice on treasury transactions for clients’ financial statements at the each financial year end.

Mark is a Strategic Director and is responsible for Arlingclose’s Technical and Consultancy offerings advising on balance sheet reviews and projections, capital and technical accounting, including Housing Revenue Account related issues. He is also involved in Arlingclose’s technical and accounts closedown related workshops.

As a key member of the Housing Team, he assists local authorities in the delivery of their housing strategies through innovative housing delivery solutions.

Mark was a treasury practitioner at West Somerset BC and Taunton Deane Council. Before joining Arlingclose, he was part of Sector Treasury Service’s client relationship team and had advisory responsibility for over 30 local authority clients. He was responsible for business development, bringing many new and innovative products to market and was also a key member of Sector’s Technical Advisory Group. He has also worked for the Audit Commission, where he had responsibility for many local authority and NHS audits and also gained project management experience whilst on secondment to the Audit Commission central office in London.

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