Kerry Dobinson, Pine Rivers Shire Council’s Chief Financial Officer, will hone his skills as a company director after winning a prestigious Company Directors Course Scholarship from the nation’s largest finance, accounting and business advisory body, Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia.
The scholarship, sponsored by Corrs Chambers Westgarth lawyers and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), is offered twice a year to CPAs working in senior accounting, finance management and management advisory roles.
Also, the winner of the CPA’s Public Sector CPA of the Year award in 1998, Kerry Dobinson, will undertake the ten week Company Directors Course Tutorial Program at the University of Queensland and receive one year’s membership of the AICD.
Pine Rivers Mayor, Yvonne Chapman, said that the scholarship will add value to the community. It will assist with Council’s commercialised business unit, Pine Water, as well as the Pricar Group Training Scheme Incorporated, in which Kerry Dobinson is involved.
CPA Australia State President, Eric Muir, said the scholarship recognised the increasing responsibilities of company directors and officers.
“It also recognises the need for effective training to promote high standards in business practice in both the public and private sectors,” he said.
As Chief Financial Officer, Kerry Dobinson is responsible for strategic direction of Council’s $154 million budget and the operation of Council’s accounting, purchasing and supply, payroll, rating and risk management functions, as well as supervising 37 Finance Department staff.
Prior to joining Council in 1983, Kerry Dobinson worked as Chief Accountant for Pioneer Concrete (Qld) Pty Ltd and as an accountant and internal auditor for Shell Company of Australia.
A life member and former secretary/treasurer of the Queensland Local Government Accountants’ Association of Queensland, Kerry holds a Bachelor of Business, Accounting, and is a Fellow of CPA Australia.
