Rob is a well-known specialist on public sector finance, leadership and governance. In the UK and globally he has assisted governments and organisations to improve performance.

CEO of CIPFA from 2013 to 2024 the body considerably grew its global footprint under his leadership.

As a non-executive, Rob is Chair of NHS University Hospitals Dorset, BD Group, a local authority owned trading company, and Residential Secure Income (ReSI) plc. He is a board member of National Highways.

A former London Borough CFO, his subsequent CEO roles in UK central and local government were:
 

- LB Barking & Dagenham, leading the regeneration of Barking Town Centre which delivered new standards of sustainable development. The council was awarded the Most Improved Council of the Year in 2008.

​

- The Improvement & Development Agency (IDeA), a public service improvement body, where he led the local government’s sector’s response to the abolition of the Audit Commission.

 

- The UK Border Agency as the Accounting Officer to the UK Parliament for £2bn and 30,000 staff with responsibility for visas, borders and law enforcement of the UK's border and immigration system.

Rob carried out two capability reviews of the UK Department of Health for the Cabinet Office. As a magistrate for 8 years he served as an adult chair on the NE London bench. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Whiteman.