Richard is a Chartered Accountant and Member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers. After 10 years in the accountancy profession, where he specialised in providing corporate tax advice to larger businesses, he worked in the corporate sector as a Director of Tax & Treasury and Finance Director. This was followed by change of direction, when he taught at the Business School of Birmingham City University, lecturing in accountancy, taxation and corporate finance to undergraduate and post graduate students. Richard now divides his time between his family, acting on the Boards of local Charities and attempting to keep fit. He has represented GB at an age group level in triathlon and is often to be seen running around Harborne and Edgbaston.