Deputy Chief Executive Stands Down After Almost 40 Years With Same Council
A senior officer has retired after almost 40 years counting the cash at the same council.
Jane Pearson began her career at Ribble Valley Borough Council as a clerical officer in its finance department in March 1987 and rose to become deputy chief executive and director of resources.
During her time the council built up a national reputation for building a strong financial base and delivering quality services to its residents while keeping council tax bills among the lowest in the country.
Jane, who has lived in the area all her life, said:
“I feel very passionately about Ribble Valley. So much so, I took a custom-made Ribble Valley flag to the Glastonbury festival in 2023 and it appeared on the TV coverage.
“I’m proud to say that Ribble Valley Borough Council has built a strong reputation for its excellent management of public finances. That’s been achieved thanks, in part, to the support of dedicated and capable colleagues and councillors over many years.
“I’ve faced and helped manage several significant challenges over my time here, not least of which were ensuring the rapid distribution of £35 million in assistance to Ribble Valley businesses during the Covid pandemic, and supporting residents and businesses during the flooding in Whalley in 2015.
“One of my proudest moments was last year when I was invited to give evidence on the sustainability of local government finance to a Parliamentary Select Committee, which was a nerve-wracking but also exciting and very interesting experience.”
Jane’s long career has seen her rise through the ranks at the council. She achieved the Association of Accounting Technicians qualification in 1990 and progressed to become a qualified accountant, passing the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) exams and gaining full membership in 1994.
Over her time at the council she has held positions as a payments assistant, technical accountant, audit and technical manager, and financial services manager.
Jane plans to spend more time in her garden, walking and pursuing new hobbies.