Nicola Simpson MAAT, a trainee accountant from Cornwall, has hit the dizzy heights of success in the final three exams towards qualifying as a chartered accountant – she was ranked ninth in the world by the ICAEW.

The 23-year-old achieved first place out of all 32 exam candidates in the South West and went on to take ninth place in the Annual International Order of Merit, which ranks candidates who achieved the highest average marks around the world. Nicola currently works as an Audit and Accounts Assistant for accountancy practice Bishop Fleming in Truro, where she joined in 2004 under a modern apprenticeship scheme.

She said: "Winning this international award means a lot to me as it recognises the hard work I have put into studying for these exams. The ACA qualification is very highly regarded, and I am proud to have achieved it through workplace training, rather than a university degree course."

Qualifying as an AAT accounting technician in 2006, Nicola is now a fully chartered accountant.