Lynne Walker’s JC path began twenty years ago when she joined Johnston Carmichael’s Inverness team as a newly-qualified CA in 2005.

With experience in both Audit and Business Advisory across our Inverness and Elgin offices, in 2018 she became Head of Business Advisory. Lynne was promoted to Partner in 2019, joined the Board in 2021, and became Vice-Chair in 2022. In June 2024, Lynne was appointed CEO and is now leading the firm, alongside Mark Houston, Chair and Senior Partner, through our exciting next chapter as we approach our 90th birthday with a refreshed strategy, purpose, and vision. 

Throughout all of her roles within the firm Lynne has always been a firm champion of change, progress, and the power of working together. She has also always loved to have a good chat, so we did just that: 

Hi Lynne. You’ve had quite a JC path - what's been the most rewarding aspect of your journey from newly-qualified CA to CEO?  

I’ve loved ’doing it all with JC’. Seeing the firm grow to what it is today and being a part of that legacy, where we continuously seek to lead our future and create enduring impact for our people, clients, and communities, is something I’m genuinely proud of every day.  

I also find it rewarding to watch others flourish in their career journeys and build their own success stories. We often share stories about our people on our Sharepoint intranet which I thoroughly enjoy reading. We also launched a new Benefits platform last year which features a Recognition Wall – people can put up a post recognising someone else in the firm who’s making an impact in some way, big or small. It’s very uplifting to read through and see all the different ways colleagues are supporting one another. 

What has been your biggest learning since taking on the CEO role last summer? 

How important aligning our values, vision and purpose is to our people. I went on a listening tour for a couple of months, having open conversations with lots of different people around our business, about our business. Hearing those different perspectives really helped me shape our strategic ambition launch. 

Can you share a memorable moment from your early days at Johnston Carmichael? 

The day we moved into Clava House in Inverness stands out in my memory. Some may remember that previously we were working from split offices which meant running along the road in all sorts of weather if you needed to have a meeting with someone in the other building. It was great to get us all under one roof in a modern new building. The fact that still comes to mind for me now shows the power of the work environment! 

And speaking of work environment makes me think of a memorable moment for a different reason – during my time in Audit, on a client visit I once worked in a room off the back of a warehouse and got locked in! I can tell you I definitely don’t miss the days of heavy pilot cases for Audit. Now with digital agendas there is a lot less paper to carry around! 

When I reflect on all the good memories I’ve made over the years, they all have people at the heart of them. I have moved locations, business lines, line management - but no matter where or what I’ve been doing, the culture has always been one where people care. 

So in many ways our culture has remained the same, but are there ways it’s changed too? 

Our culture is our heartbeat, it’s how it feels to be a part of JC. Of course over the 20 years I have been with the firm this has changed. Societal shifts have driven this through technology adoption, diversity and inclusion agendas, flexible working, and a focus on wellbeing. Ultimately I feel we have become more dynamic, agile and collaborative and ready to take on whatever the future throws at us. We’ve also been working hard to make sure topics like wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion are given the focus they deserve, with our People and Culture Forum leading on new initiatives. 

You mention technology adoption and being more agile. How do you balance the firm's nearly 90-year heritage with the need for innovation and being able to stick to one of our core values of remaining relevant? 

You don’t reach a 90-year anniversary without evolving and adapting to changing social, political, and economic influences. We’re proud of our heritage and we respect lessons of the past.  That’s why we called our new strategy ‘From strength to strength’ – we have those strong foundations to build on, and we’re innovative and prepared to change to ensure we lead our future. 

What's the most exciting project or initiative you're currently working on? 

A stand-out moment of last year has to be the launch of our strategic ambition and being able to bring this to life with everyone at the same time. We brought all of our people together at our office locations and streamed the launch live, introducing our new strategic objectives and celebrating the part that everyone plays in achieving them. This work is ongoing as we now prioritise our five-year actions, investment needs, and goals to achieve our vision to build success stories that change lives. It has been a privilege to hear first-hand of the ambitions we have for our business and the sense of passion and drive our people have for achieving this. 

How has the expansion into new markets like Newcastle impacted the firm's strategy? 

Our strategy has always included organic growth. We opened our London office in 2017 to expand our reach beyond our Scottish markets, and in 2019 opened our Dundee office to build on our specialisms in key sectors such as Technology & Life Sciences, Food & Drink, and Rural.  

Launching in Newcastle in 2023 was another example of broadening our reach, to now serve clients in the North of England, but also to introduce further expertise to our teams. With an office of over 20 people (and growing) we are becoming even more multi-disciplined which will only enhance the opportunities and impact we can make in the region. 

As a leader balancing the demands of work and your personal life, how do you unwind after a busy day? 

Listening to my family talk about their day. I do a lot of talking in my role at JC! So unwinding for me is taking my attention in a different direction, to another important part of my life. And when time allows, I love a short series on Netflix! 

Outside of the office, what hobbies or interests do you enjoy? 

Socialising with family and friends; reading (I should say podcasts or something inspirational here, but I love a good fiction book!); and going for walks. I am blessed with great beaches and woodlands where I stay. 

What's one piece of advice you've received in your career that has stayed with you, and has it shaped your leadership style? 

Don’t be afraid to take a leap. When you’re feeling uneasy, it means you are being stretched and challenged - that shows a growth mindset and you’ll benefit from it.