Next Generation Ready for Enterprise

A ‘graduation’ ceremony has been held to mark the achievement of the region’s trainee chartered accountants.

Organised by the Northern Society of Chartered Accountants (NSCA) and supported by Newcastle University Business School, the event celebrated the success of budding business advisers in their professional exams.

The students received prizes in recognition of passing the exams leading to the prestigious ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant) qualification of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

Last year a total of 93 candidates in the North East and Cumbria completed the ICAEW’s Advanced Stage, while a further 75 passed the Professional Stage. All have been training with accountancy firms and other organisations in the region.

Tyneside-born better regulation guru Teresa Graham, CBE, the first woman winner of the ICAEW’s outstanding achievement award in 2007, presented the prizes in the university’s historic Kings Hall.

Mrs Graham, who began her career with Price Waterhouse in Newcastle, said: “The ACA is a passport that can take you as far as you want to go. It is the premier business qualification, which can open up countless career opportunities, both in this country and overseas.

“As chartered accountants, what we learn in our training remains with us throughout our professional lives, underpinning everything we do, as we apply our technical knowledge and skills within an ethical framework.”

NSCA deputy president Jim Summers congratulated the students and wished them well in their future careers. “While we recognise the success of our ACA students every year, this is the first time we have held a graduation-style ceremony to celebrate their achievement,” said Mr Summers.

Rob Jones, director of undergraduate studies at Newcastle University Business School said: “We are delighted to strengthen the existing links between the business school and the profession by supporting the Northern Society in honouring the next generation of chartered accountants.”

The awards were supported by accountancy firms PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Deloitte, Baker Tilly and Tenon.