Professional recognition for top Accountancy and Finance students in 2018

Top-performing Accountancy and Finance students have been recognised at a prize-giving lunch at the University of Stirling.

Four prizes, sponsored by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and international accounting firm KPMG, are awarded to students from Stirling Management School with the highest overall performance in selected Professional Accountancy modules.

Holly Masterson, who graduated from the University in the summer, was awarded two prizes from KPMG for her performance on the Auditing and Advanced Financial Accounting modules – each worth £200.

Holly, who is currently applying for trainee accountant positions, has won all four awards during her time at Stirling, having previously won the ICAS-sponsored Charles Scott Prize for the Accounting I and Accounting II modules, and the KPMG prize for External Reporting module.

She said: “I was really surprised to win. I only did what was asked of me. My advice to others is get your head down and work hard. Making progress every day and focusing on your goal are the main things.”

Lorraine Hume and Holly Masterson

Su Yi Low won the Charles Scott Prize and £100 for her performance in the Accounting I and Accounting II modules in her first year at Stirling.

The third KPMG prize for the External Reporting module - and £200 - was awarded to Lorraine Hume, who joined the University after completing an HND in Accounting at Forth Valley College.

“I was delighted,” said Lorraine. “It was totally unexpected as I did not know about these awards. When I got the letter, I was shocked but it was a lovely shock.”

Professor of Accounting Ian Fraser said: “We are once again indebted to both KPMG and ICAS for funding these generous prizes.

“The Accounting and Finance Division greatly values its strong connections with the accounting profession. These help to provide our students with the best possible start to their careers in an increasingly competitive marketplace.” 

Presenting the prizes, Audit Manager at KPMG Jennifer Hayes said: “It’s really lovely for us to be able to give something back and see the talent that is coming up through the universities in Scotland.”