Darra Singh head of EY Local Public Services practice

Accounting and consulting firm EY has appointed Darra Singh to head its Local Public Services for the UK and Ireland. Singh, who was appointed a partner at EY last year, will replace John Baker, who has decided to relocate to EY’s Australian practice.

Darra Singh joined EY in January 2012 as an Executive Director within its Local Public Services team. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive at Job Centre Plus, also of Ealing and Luton Councils, and chaired the government-appointed Communities and Victims Panel, which investigated the London riots. Earlier in his career he worked in the housing sector, where he was Director of the North British Housing Association and Chief Executive of the Asra Greater London Housing Association. Singh was awarded an OBE in 2004 for services to local government.

In July last year, Singh was promoted to Partner, and roughly a year later he has now been given the full responsibility for the UK and Ireland region. EY’s Local Public Services team advises local authorities and public bodies on a wide array of accountancy, assurance and advisory topics, including how to achieve efficient and enhanced services in the face of financial and delivery challenges.

Next to his role at EY, Singh also chairs the Independent Commission on Local Government Finance set up by CIPFA and the Local Government Association.