About
Erica trained as a chartered accountant with a small firm in Chester and joined the Liverpool office of Coopers & Lybrand as an audit senior in 1995. She worked for C&L and then PwC for 15 years, being promoted through the ranks to Director. Her roles for the firm included audit and advisory in a variety of sectors and offices around the UK, as well as a year working on projects overseas seeking a UK stock exchange listing.
Having been a volunteer and trustee for a number of education related charities, Erica decided to extend this into her day job and joined the University of Birmingham as Deputy Director of Finance in 2010. In 2018, she was appointed as Finance Director and member of Executive board, with her title changing in 2022 to Chief Financial Officer, in recognition of the breadth of the role she delivers. Her team incorporates the usual aspects of financial reporting and transactions, as well as Procurement, Insurance, and Intellectual Property commercialisation. She has led on a number of University wide initiatives including the development of the Dubai campus; a student residences design, build, finance and operate scheme and expansion of the University’s online in association with a partner.
She was appointed Chair of BUFDG in June 2022, having Chaired BUFDG’s Financial Reporting Group for 3 years. In that role she regularly meets with sector bodies and external stakeholders as well as being called to present evidence to Parliamentary groups and committees. She is a Trustee of the University’s Guild of Students and director of a number of University subsidiaries.
Erica is Vice Chair of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham which includes 2 independent schools, a multi academy trust of grammar schools and secondary comprehensives, and a charity foundation. As part of this role she serves on a number of associated committees, including Chairing the Audit and Risk Committee and as member of one of the local governing bodies.
