Every day on s1jobs there are dozens of vacancies for accountants. Some are for senior positions and, if you’ve just qualified, you might be forgiven for thinking you’ve got a long slog ahead to get to the top.
Yes, you have to put in the hours, but if you have integrity, flair and a passion for your work your talent will get spotted.
Want proof? Look no further than the winners of this year’s Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland’s awards for the best and brightest young members of the profession.
They’re all on the fast-track to the top and all are under 35.
Rimla Akhtar
Rimla is the outright winner of the best young CA award. She’s an Inclusion & Diversity Consultant with a leading London firm. She’s the first Muslim woman to sit on the FA Council and is Chair of the Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation.
She works at grassroots and with the government here and abroad.
Oh yes, and she’s also picked up an MBE but hasn’t yet celebrated her 35th birthday.
Joel Watt
Joel set up his first business in partnership at just 24 years of age. Today, Jack Taylor, a fishing trade company, has an international customer base and a turnover of £5m per annum.
In 2014, he founded VISTEM, makers of customised products and tools for heavy industry and won the ICAS Entrepreneur category.
He says: “We have a huge number of people who are very smart but sometimes a little too scared to take that leap and start something. It’s good to recognise those already doing it and hopefully encourage others as well.”
Colin McLellan
Colin is Finance Director at Skyscanner and winner of the Leadership category.
Earlier this year he relocated to Tokyo to fill the role of interim CEO of a joint venture between Skyscanner and Yahoo Japan.
On picking up his prize he said: “It has been a fierce competition. The calibre was really high and I came to the awards ceremony with no expectations at all.”
Thomas Gillan
Thomas is Chief Finance Officer of Social Investment Scotland and won the Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility category, which is given to CAs who display a high regard for social awareness and professional responsibility.
Thomas impressed the judges with his passion and dedication to his work at SIS, who invest in businesses with a strong commitment to moral responsibility.
He said: “The competition has been fantastic and it’s been great to hear people being encouraged by this kind of validation to keep doing what they’re doing.”
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