On discovering that viable career options didn’t include rock star or football legend, Ronnie began studying for the ACCA Qualification in 1975, becoming a member in 1981.

From 1975 until moving into a lecturing career in 1989, he worked in a variety of roles in industry and professional practice. More recently, he has been a school governor and trustee of registered charities.

He held the post of senior lecturer in Professional Accounting Practice in the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics at Ulster University from January 2003 until his retirement in September 2022.

His primary interest is ensuring that students understand the link between the theoretical and academic basis of their studies and how accounting impacts on business and society – and ensuring that, as a result, they are able to make informed and fulfilling career choices.

As well as university courses, he has taught ACCA students in Ireland, the Caribbean and Asia and acted as a consultant on international projects to develop professional accounting qualifications and delivered corporate training. This experience, alongside being a past examiner and subject coordinator for ACCA, has given him first-hand evidence of the transformative nature of professional education.

He joined ACCA’s Ulster Members’ Committee in 1990 and has been actively involved in ACCA since then. He was elected to ACCA Council in 2014, and has served on the Regulatory Board, the Standards Board, Governance Design Committee, Nominating Committee, Market Oversight Committee and the Market Adoption Council Oversight Group.

In November 2023, he was elected as ACCA President.