Top performing ICAEW trainee Chartered Accountants picked up prizes at this year’s Northern Society of Chartered Accountants’ Business and Awards Dinner at Newcastle’s Civic Centre on Friday night (11 October).
Among this year’s winners was Sam Bell of Carlisle based Dodd & Co, who won the Professional Stage Presidents’ Award.
The Presidents’ Awards are awarded to students who have demonstrated both Academic excellence, by finishing in the top 20 of highest overall marks in the Northern Society Order of Merit; and who have also made an exceptional contribution to their firm/organisation by their professionalism, business acumen, teamwork or to the Northern Society or wider general community.
Sam’s colleague, Lewis Dickinson was nominated for the Advanced Stage Presidents’ Award, which was won by Andrew Jacott of Deloitte.
Head judge, NorSCA President, Keith Proudfoot, and fellow judges Alan Johnston, (NorSCA Immediate-past President and former Senior Partner at Armstrong Watson’s Fairview office in Carlisle), and Chris Hugill (President of the Law Society of Newcastle), spent many hours reading about the long-listed students and, as Keith explains, they were impressed by what they saw: “It was really uplifting to see the quality of the next generation of ICAEW members in the north and great to read about the diverse routes that they’re taking as they work towards their ACA qualification.”
All of the awards were presented by ICAEW President Fiona Wilkinson and Northern Society of Chartered Accountants (NorSCA) President, Keith Proudfoot.
Order of Merit Awards were also presented during the Friday night’s event. The Northern Society Order of Merit Award (Advanced Stage) is awarded to the student who scored the highest mark in the ICAEW Advanced Stage exams in the Northern Society area in calendar year 2018. This year’s winner is Laura Atherton from The National Audit Office.
The Northern Society Order of Merit Award (Professional Stage) is awarded to the student who scored the highest mark in the ICAEW Professional Stage exams in the Northern Society area in calendar year 2018. This year’s winner is Stephen Twaddle from Deloitte.
The dinner, which was attended by around 170 NorSCA members and guests, raised almost £3,000 for MacMillian Cancer Support; the guest speaker was award-winning comedian, Jo Caulfield.
