Celebrating the best of Welsh accounting talent

The Finance Awards Wales took place on 12 May, recognising the accountants helping companies thrive in spite of huge economic pressures.

The Finance Awards Wales took place on 12 May at City Hall in Cardiff, with AAT sponsoring Accounts Technician of the Year Award.

The Finance Awards Wales is designed to recognise, attract and invest in the talented finance professionals working in Wales at all levels, from finance directors and Chief Financial Officers to apprentices and graduates.

AAT is the sponsor of the Accounts Technician of the Year Award category, which was won this year by Jordan Meek of Leekes, who also picked up the Rising Star of the Year Award. Jordan joined the Leekes team in 2019 as a trainee accountant after leaving school, and has subsequently risen to become one of Wales’s youngest finance managers through her on-the-job experience.

The whole process has been a great experience and I’m so grateful to have been given this opportunity. I’d definitely urge any school leavers or young people to consider this route of studying as the support is immense. I look forward to continuing to study and going up in the finance world!

Jordan Meek

We were very proud to see that the two Highly Commended awards in the category went to AAT students:

• Thomas Rees AATQB, POBL Housing – currently studying with ACO Training as a Level 3 AAT apprentice. This is Thomas’s second year winning Highly Commended in this category.
• Lowri Scandrett, BBC – currently studying with Cardiff and Vale College as a Level 4 AAT apprentice.

The other nominees were Ying Lau of Monmouthshire Building Society and Nick Levi of MII Engineering Ltd.

Christina Earls, President, AAT, who presented the award, said:

“Huge congratulations to Jordan and all the other nominees in the Accounts Technician of the Year Award category. AAT has sponsored the Finance Awards Wales for several years and it’s always great to see new generations of financial talent emerge as part of this. At a time when businesses across Wales and the UK are facing huge pressures, they have demonstrated the vital role that accounting technicians play in helping companies to not only survive, but thrive, by applying their real-world ready skills and knowledge. Being nominated for this award is a huge testament to their hard work and dedication. I want to say well done to them all on their success – they are no doubt set for great things.”

AAT Comment offers news and opinion on the world of business and finance from the Association of Accounting Technicians.