Top industry recognition for Raymond Brown accountant

Glenn Gosden of Hampshire construction services group Raymond Brown has scooped a prestigious industry award from an international accountancy body. 
 
A far cry from his previous profession as a locksmith, the group management accountant has won the Association of Accounting Technicians’ (AAT) top prize for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
 
Each year AAT, the UK’s leading qualification and membership body for accountants, made up of over 120,000 members worldwide, awards a celebrated £1,000 to the individual who has demonstrated the greatest commitment to continuing their professional development.
 
Initially chosen at random for an audit from approximately 50,000 AAT members worldwide, Glenn, 31, was required to submit two years of CPD records and plans. Impressed by the commitment shown in his submissions, Glenn was put forward for the award and asked to supply a third year’s records.
 
Glenn later learned that of the thousand members audited that year (2011), he was one of the few to be nominated for the CPD Prize. After a presentation to the AAT’s Director of Professional Development and an interview with a panel of judges, Glenn was announced as the worthy prize winner.
 
“I was really overwhelmed to have even made it to the final, let alone win,” said Glenn. “Historically the CPD prize has often been awarded for accountants working in practices for keeping up-to-date with legislative change, so as an in-house employee I was surprised to be in the running. The majority of my CPD is based on research into new areas that perhaps would not normally be carried out by a practicing accountant, such as cost savings, risk protection, insurance and cashflow management – I think that may be why I stood out to the judges.
 
“I’m extremely proud to have had my efforts recognised by the AAT.”
 
Glenn joined Raymond Brown nine years ago as an assistant accountant having previously worked as a locksmith. Thanks to ongoing on-the-job training, Glenn has completed and passed his final Chartered Institute of Management Accountants exams and aims to receive full chartered certification within the next few months.
 
“I’ve come a long way since I was locksmith and that’s largely thanks to the opportunities made available to me at Raymond Brown,” finished Glenn.
 
Raymond Brown Group managing director Kelvin White added: “We are all thrilled for Glenn – it’s a real credit to his hard work and determination that’s he’s achieved such esteemed recognition.”