Public appointment: Members reappointed to the Accounts Commission for Scotland

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, Shona Robison, today announced the reappointment of Jennifer Henderson, Ruth MacLeod and Malcolm Bell as Members of the Accounts Commission for Scotland. All three have been members of the Commission since November 2022. 

Members

Jennifer Henderson has extensive public sector management and leadership experience and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. She is currently the Chief Executive and Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, delivering a substantial programme of digital transformation. Jennifer emphasises the importance of effective stakeholder engagement, communication, and transparency in public service delivery — bringing experience from both her current role and from leading the stakeholder engagement for the Building Safety Programme established in response to the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower. Jennifer has a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. She received a UK Women in Defence Award for improving gender equality during her time as a Director at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. Previously, Jennifer also served as a Non-Executive Director for Ploughshare Innovations Ltd.

Ruth MacLeod is a communications specialist with more than 20 years’ experience working in strategic Public Relations, predominantly in the public sector, she has led on complex corporate communications issues. She has held roles within the police, the local authority sector, the Scottish Government and the fire and rescue service. 
A specialist in crisis communications and change management, Ruth was responsible for delivering the communications function for the newly-formed national Scottish Fire and Rescue Service requiring significant leadership across all aspects of communications. During her time there she delivered the communications response to a number of high-profile incidents including a firefighter fatality, the Clutha Bar helicopter crash and the George Square bin lorry crash. 
She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and a chartered PR practitioner.

Malcolm Bell has extensive experience in the public and third sectors. He served as Convener of Shetland Islands Council from 2012 until 2022. During this time, amongst other appointments, he was a member of the COSLA Convention, served as a director of the Improvement Service Ltd, and as President of the Scottish Provosts Association. Malcolm was a Non-Executive Director and Vice-Chair of NHS Shetland between 2010 and 2022. He is a former senior police officer, retiring from Northern Constabulary in 2010.  He has chaired Shetland’s Child Protection Committee and Adult Protection Committees in Shetland and Orkney, leading both through a period of significant organisational and legislative change. 
Malcolm currently serves as an Honorary Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, and is a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland.

Reappointment

The reappointments will be for four years and will run from 1 November 2026 until 31 October 2030

The reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The reappointments are part-time and attracts a remuneration of £9,808.80 per year for a time commitment of 2.5 days per month.

Other ministerial appointments

Jennifer Henderson is a Keeper and Chief Executive of Registers of Scotland, for which she receives remuneration of £94,400 per year, for a time commitment of four days per week.

Ruth MacLeod and Malcolm Bell do not hold any other regulated public appointments.

Political activity 

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.   

Jennifer Henderson, Ruth MacLeod and Malcolm Bell have had no political activity within the last five years. 

Background

The Accounts Commission is the public body responsible for reporting on the finances and performance of Scotland’s 32 councils, 30 Integration Joint Boards and other local government bodies. 

The Accounts Commission plays a significant role in Scottish public life, providing independent assurance to citizens about their local councils’ use of public money and about how these councils are performing. The Commission holds councils and other local government bodies to account and ensures that they provide best value for their communities. The Commission operates independently of local government and of the Scottish Government, and reports in public. 

Accounts Commission | Audit Scotland