Allan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Strathclyde University. He became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland in 1980.
After qualifying he worked in general practice both in the UK and abroad, notably in Nairobi, before becoming a partner in McLay McAlister and McGibbon in 1989.
Allan advises a wide range of businesses and includes the Hotel and Leisure, as well as the Medical and GP sectors amongst his specialisations.
Since 2005 he has been a Member of Council of the Association of Accounting Technicians, the UK's leading qualification and membership body for accounting staff.