Mike Kelly F.C.A. trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse and worked as the Group Accountant for Thames Television PLC, F.D. of Majestic Films & TV, F.D. of British Screen Group, Head of Finance of the UK Film Council and V.P. Finance & Production E.M.E.A. & Asia for Warner Bros. before establishing Northern Alliance. In addition to his involvement in the financing, development, production or distribution of hundreds of titles ranging from ‘Shifty’ to ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone’, Northern Alliance has provided business advice to clients as diverse as Aardman Animations, Film London, Octopus Investments and Royal and Derngate Theatres. He has acted as Head of/Director of Finance and Head of Production and Business Affairs on an interim or part time basis for clients and is an experienced ‘angel’ investor. A NESTA creative business mentor, Mike has also helped deliver industry development programmes across the UK and overseas, including as a visiting lecturer at Bayes Business School.