Lindsay Hodgson MD: Profile

My name is Lindsay Hodgson and I am a fully qualified certified accountant with over 20 years of international experience in financial services and corporate governance. Previously an FCA of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) having passed all exams at the first attempt, I am currently a full member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR) and hold a practising certificate. I am one of circa 40 individuals authorised to sign audit reports in Rwanda.

Prior to founding FAST, I previously worked for 5 years at KPMG, training first in London prior to being seconded to the Sydney office (both times employed within financial services departments). My clients were typically global and / or national leaders in their field. I subsequently worked for a further 3 years for the National Audit Office of England and Wales working on high risk and complex audit clients. I am experienced in IFRS, UK, Australian and Rwandan GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), and have worked in a variety of sectors and markets.

On first arriving in Rwanda, I worked as a Group Company Secretary for a mining and exploration group. I reported directly to the CEO and shareholders of the group on all corporate secretarial and legal matters, including the Rwandan Minister of Mines. I was also responsible for preparing packs for presentation to the Board of Directors and for the Executive Committee. I have extensive experience of Rwandan Company law requirements in addition to a comprehensive understanding of the Rwandan Labour Law.

I am an active member of the Rwandan Institute and was elected as a Commissioner on the Education, Examinations and Curriculum Commission in March 2012 and asked to extend in 2017 until my election to the Inspection Commission in 2019 (up to 2022). The Commissions report to the Governing Council of ICPAR. As an Education Commissioner, I singlehandedly developed ICPAR’s first examinations’ results management system. I also sat on ICPAR’s Tax Working Group (“TWG” – later the Tax Commission) from 2015 to 2023. The TWG progressed several sensitive and time critical matters with Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) including proposed tax laws and tax status of the Institute.

I am fluent in spoken French and often use French when liaising with local colleagues and external legal and accounting partners. I also speak basic Kinyarwanda which often helps to break the ice locally!

I have a Masters Degree in Astrophysics from the University of Newcastle in the UK and my final year research was published in the scientific journal ‘Astronomy and Astrophysics’