The completion of your final accountancy exams is always a reason to celebrate. Gone are the long hours of studying, the stress of the exams themselves and the nail-biting wait for your results to come through.
But two of the major accountancy institutes, ACCA and CIMA, are on the hunt for newly qualified accountants who are looking for another reason to celebrate – by winning the New Accountant of the Year Award.
ACCA is scouring its list of recent final exam passers from which it will select its winner, while CIMA is inviting applications from employers of prospective winners – details can be found on its website at www.cima.org.uk.
The awards are open to newly qualified accountants from the last 12 months’ exams, and although exam success is important, both institutes are looking for a range of qualities.
Andrew Harding, ACCA’s head of professional standards, says: ‘The winner will have demonstrated excellence in both their exams and career to date. ‘We are looking for commitment and application and someone who has managed to balance their work, study and home life, and come out the other end.’
He adds that the most important thing for today’s accountant is to have breadth of expertise and ability.
‘In industry and commerce, accountants are expected to have a handle on all aspects of finance.’
The ACCA New Accountant Award was last year won by Jennifer Atkinson, a trust and company administrator at the Jersey offices of Rawlinson & Hunter.
The CIMA New Accountant Award went to Judith Law of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
CIMA’s head of marketing, Christine Adames, says the institute is looking for someone who is a well-rounded business executive.
‘Important qualities include good communication skills, the ability to understand and translate strategy and the ability to work with other disciplines,’ she says
Adames also emphasises that entrants should have a good awareness of the world around them.
‘We are looking for someone who has a broad view of the world, their industry and company and can put things that happen into context and add value to the job they do, whatever sector of the economy they work in.
‘The award will also recognise that they have just finished their training, and will be the icing on the cake.’
The winners will be presented with their awards at a glittering ceremony at London’s spectacular Natural History Museum on 7 November.
They will join top figures from across the accountancy profession for what always proves to be an enjoyable and memorable occasion.
CIPFA, ICAS and the ICAEW have opted out of the New Accountant category this year so will not be accepting nominations for this award. The ICAEW is continuing to participate by sponsoring the Accountancy Age Personality of the Year Award, which readers will vote for later in the year.
For details on how to enter, sponsorship of awards or to book a table, please visit our website at www.accountancyage.com/awards, call 020 7316 9762 or email [email protected]