Scottish Building Society said it has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Aileen Brown in the newly-created role of finance director.

Brown joins chief executive Mark Thomson as the second executive director on the society’s board.

Brown, a member of ICAS, brings experience at board and senior management level to the role.

Brown was most recently interim finance director at Scottish Friendly and before that was group chief financial officer at Braveheart Investment Group plc.

She also spent five years at Ernst & Young.

Thomson said: “Aileen is a welcome addition to the senior management team, and to the board.

“With her strong background in all elements of strategy and finance, previous experience with a mutual organisation, and a proven leadership ability we are confident she will make a valuable contribution to the effective running of the society on behalf of our 33,000 members.”

Established in 1848, Scottish Building Society is the world’s oldest building society and Scotland’s only independent building society.

It has assets of £388.9 million, mortgage assets of £286.1 million, savings balance of £342.1 million and reserves of £31.5 million.

Last year it reported a pre-tax profit of £1.3 million after investments in member loyalty initiatives.

The society employs 71 staff and has 6 branches and 62 agency offices across Scotland.