Robert Black (auditor)


Robert William Black is a former public administrator who was the first Auditor General for Scotland, holding the post between 2000 and 2012.

Early life and education

Black was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire. He studied at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with an honours MA degree in economics, then gained a MSc degree in town planning from Heriot-Watt University, and a master's degree in public policy from University of Strathclyde.

Career

Black was a local authority chief executive for 10 years, first with Stirling District Council 1985−90, then with Tayside Regional Council 1990−95.
He became Controller of Audit with the Accounts Commission in 1995, and was the first person to hold the position who was not an accountant. In May 1999, the Scottish Parliament voted to nominate a person to become the first Auditor General for Scotland. Parliament's choice was approved by the Queen, and Black was appointed to the post in February 2000. He was also the chief executive of Audit Scotland. In October 2011 he announced that he would retire from Audit Scotland. In March 2012, the Scottish Parliament decided that Caroline Gardner should succeed him.
in June 2012, he was appointed to the board of the British Library for a four-year term, and chairs their public audit committee. He is a member of the University Court at the University of Edinburgh.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society.

Honours and awards

He has an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Aberdeen in 2004, then an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Queen Margaret University in 2006. He is an Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
He received a CBE in the 2012 New Year Honours.