Accountants awards to be annual event

Jun 27 2007 By The Journal

The Nigel Wright North-East Accountancy Awards that took place last week was such a success organisers are already making plans for 2008.

Judges ranging from entrepreneur and television "Dragon" Duncan Bannatyne to One NorthEast chair Margaret Fay picked the cream of the region's accountants in the first competition dedicated to the profession.

Sponsor Nigel Wright said: "The awards were a huge success and it was great to see a room full of such enthusiastic and talented people. The excitement was built around the awards being the first event of it's kind as well as the general feeling of rewarding winning nominees for their excellent and highly commendable work.

"We were very proud to be part of such a great event and are looking at plans for next year to keep the momentum which has been created in 2007."

Organisers are looking at a broader range of categories for next year's event to ensure excellence is rewarded across all levels.

Judging was difficult across the board but it was exceptionally difficult for the Young Accountant of the Year with the award being shared by Amit Bhalla of PricewaterhouseCoopers and Joanne Evans of Procter & Gamble.

Amit, corporate finance manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Newcastle was also involved in winning the Corporate Finance Deal of the Year.

Amit said: "I am delighted to have won both Young Accountant of the Year and to have been part of the PricewaterhouseCoopers team that were awarded the Corporate Finance Deal of the Year. Since joining the corporate finance department, PricewaterhouseCoopers has constantly provided me with opportunities and rigorous training, enabling me to rapidly develop and to demonstrate my abilities."