George Osborne is this week named the most influential figure for the accounting profession in the 2008 Accountancy Age Top 50 Power List.

Osborne earns the accolade after chancellor Alistair Darling chose to borrow policy directly from the shadow chancellor’s agenda on non doms and inheritance tax.

The top ten this year has an international flavour with two US and one European regulator making the final cut.

Arthur Levitt, former head of the SEC and now leader of the US review of audit ownership, plus Christopher Cox, the current SEC chief, make positions seven and 10, respectively, while Pervenche Beres, chairwoman of the EU economic and monetary affairs committee takes the number eight spot.

All have been cited because of the implications their decision making this year could have over the working lives of UK accountants.

Michael Cleary, chief executive of Grant Thornton, makes the list at 16, overtaking his opposite number at BDO Stoy Hayward Jeremy Newman , because he has pushed hard to grow the firm in competition with the Big Four by taking over of Robson Rhodes.

See the full list go to Top 50 Power List