“If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great”
Source: Tom Hanks
Profile of Wiser Together Advisors & Ross McDonald
Ross McDonald holds the role of Principal of Wiser Together Advisors. Ross is a board director, interim executive and global nomad. Ross is a dual citizen of UK and Canada. He travels extensively between UK, Canada and Schengen area.
Ross has over 25 years experience in financial services with diversity across function, business units and geography. Roles include CFO; CRO; SVP; VP; regulator; CEO-level consultant; and Board advisor. Functions include finance; corporate strategy; risk; regulation; trade support; audit. Organizations include US banks; Canadian credit unions; financial regulator and government entities. Business scope includes retail banking; corporate & investment banking; wealth management; securities/derivatives trading; and clean technology / clean energy.
Substantially all of Ross’s career has focussed on catalyst roles within financial services organizations; in VUCA context; that proactively strive for exceptional results or organizational growth/change. Environments of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Uncertainty (VUCA) typically require elevated ambition, expectations and urgency. By way of example, Ross has completed multiple contractor mandates, on referral from a financial regulator entity, in regards regulatory remediation of credit unions.
Ross has held positions as Board Chair; Board Director; Board Advisor; and volunteer at multiple organizations. He currently holds the position of Board Director of Parkinson Canada, a prominent charity; and Board Director and Chair Governance Committee of Advantage B.C. a sustainable finance policy advocate. As a ‘GlobalScot’ for many years, he supports the trade & investment activities of the Scottish government.
Ross has an MBA from London Business School; is a Chartered Accountant; and a Bachelor of Accountancy & Finance degree. He has mentored CEOs of many B.C. early-stage technology ventures. He is a certified coach in multiple sports.
“If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, then the end is near”
Source: Jack Welch
Ross McDonald – Canadian Credit Unions – CFO CRO – Financial Regulator – Regulatory Remediation & Corporate Finance Advisory
Wiser Together Advisors / Clean West Capital. 2009 – current. Principal
Wiser Together Advisors provides interim executive services. Clean West Capital provided management consulting and corporate finance services to credit unions (turnaround work on referral from regulator entity), early-stage technology ventures (commercial & financial advisor) and federal/provincial government entities.
Community Savings Credit Union. 2020 – 2022. Chief Financial Officer & Chief Risk Officer
Community Savings Credit Union is a provincially regulated financial institution with over $700 million assets and six retail bank branches in Greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
Financial Institutions Commission (B.C. Ministry of Finance). 2015 – 2016. Director, Central Credit Unions
FICOM (rebranded BCFSA) regulates credit unions, insurance firms & trusts in British Columbia. In 2016, BC credit unions and BC central credit unions reported over $70 billion and C$15 billion assets respectively. Central 1 Credit Union has an elevated regulatory designation as a Domestically Systemically Important Financial Institution (‘D-SIFI’).
Stirling Mercantile Corporation. 2007 – 2009. Senior Vice President
Stirling Mercantile was a corporate finance firm that advised Canadian mid-market businesses in regards mergers & acquisitions and growth capital funding transactions.
“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you in trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so”
Source: Mark Twain
Ross McDonald – UK & US Regulated Financial Services – Corporate Strategy – External Audit
Citigroup Global Markets. 2001 – 2004. Senior Vice President, EMEA Corporate Strategy
Citigroup is a global financial institution. Citigroup Global Markets included Corporate Bank, Investment Bank, Equities, Fixed Income, Treasury and Cash Management. EMEA region reported revenues of approx. US$4 billion. Responsibility for strategic planning; external/internal tactical growth opportunities; and organizational change.
Citigroup Private Client Services. 2000 – 2001. Vice President Strategy, Europe
Citigroup Private Client Services was a wealth management business that, including Smith Barney, managed in excess of US$1 Trillion of private client assets globally. The European team was a Citigroup corporate venture unit that critically appraised the potential execution of a full-service investment business to mass-affluent Europeans. Acquired by Morgan Stanley.
Salomon Brothers. 1996 – 2000. Vice President Trade Support, Fixed Income Derivatives
Salomon Brothers was a U.S. investment bank. European with strategic focus on proprietary trading of fixed income derivatives and securities. European Fixed Income Derivatives desk held US$billions of bonds and derivative products and reported ~US$400m annual revenues. Acquired by Travelers Group to become Citigroup.
Ernst & Young. 1992 – 1996. Senior Accountant, Capital Markets Group
Ernst & Young Capital Markets Group provided external audit, consultancy and regulatory assignments for clients within banking, asset management, brokerage and other financial products businesses. Clients included Morgan Stanley, Bankers Trust and British Airways.
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit”
Source: Harry Truman
Ross McDonald – Professional Qualifications – Education
London Business School (LBS). 2002 – 2004. Executive MBA
London Business School is a leading global business school, often top 3 business school in Financial Times Europe rankings.
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). 1992 – 1995. Chartered Accountant
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) is a global professional membership organisation and business network, headquartered in Scotland, for Chartered Accountants (known as CAs). Educator, regulator, examiner and professional awarding body.
University of Glasgow. 1989 – 1992. Bachelor of Accountancy & Finance
University of Glasgow, founded 1451, is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland’s four ancient universities.