THE head of a national accountancy body called in to see the country's top trainee on a recent visit to the region.

Edith Brough from Joseph Miller & Co, Newcastle, finished top of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) International Order of Merit for the Professional Stage examinations in the December 2010 sitting.

ICAEW chief Michael Izza called in at the firm’s Newcastle offices to meet Edith and staff partner David Gold.

Edith joined Joseph Miller & Co in June 2008 having graduated from Aston University in 2007 with a first-class honours degree in business and management.

Her degree studies and some later work experience at a firm in Cumbria brought about her decision to embark on an accountancy career in Newcastle.

Edith said: “I was very pleased that Michael Izza took the time to come and meet me. As I explained to him, I specifically chose to train with a smaller firm of chartered accountants to ensure that I would have the opportunity to gain more experience of accounts preparation and taxation, as well as audits.”

David Gold said: “Edith’s success demonstrates that high-calibre graduates choosing to train with a smaller firm can benefit from the very broad range of experience offered in such an environment.”