PKF Smith Cooper celebrates triple win at NCASS awards

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 26 October 2024

Nottingham accounting and advisory firm PKF Smith Cooper is celebrating a successful evening at the Nottingham Chartered Accountant Student Society (NCASS) Annual Charity Ball on Friday 11th October after scooping three awards.

The awards covered academic achievement, outstanding contribution in areas other than exams whilst a student and winning the 5-a-side NCASS football tournament, highlighting the ‘work hard, play hard’ team culture championed at PKF Smith Cooper.

Helena Sale (Assistant Audit Manager) won the prestigious Howitt Prize 2023/24, an award for the student qualifying in the 2023 final examination sittings who has best acquitted themselves to become a chartered accountant. For Helena, this involved contributing in areas beyond her job role, including serving on the NCASS committee, being an active member of PKF Smith Cooper’s social committee and supporting initiatives within her local community, such as volunteering to make visors for the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Erentz (Audit Executive), who joined PKF Smith Cooper in 2021, was awarded the R J Weston Prize for achieving the best performance with first time passes at either the November 2023 or July 2024 Advanced Stage examinations. The award has been won by several leading accountants at PKF Smith Cooper in the past, including the firm’s Managing Partner James Bagley and Audit Partner James Delve.

NCASS is an official body that represents ACA students across Nottingham, Derby and Lincolnshire. PKF Smith Cooper currently has two team members on the volunteer-run NCASS committee, Matt Laurenti as sports representative and Helena Sale as social media representative, who both helped plan the Annual Charity Ball. Matt will shortly be taking over as Chair of the society.

The Annual Charity Ball featured a regional prize presentation and a three-course dinner, raising over £2,500 for the society’s nominated charities, Charnwood Toy Appeal and RSPCA Radcliffe.

James Bagley, Managing Partner at PKF Smith Cooper, said:

“We are extremely proud of our team’s achievements at this year’s NCASS awards. Congratulations to Helena and Dave – and not forgetting our PKF Smith Cooper football team – on their award success!

“While Helena’s and Dave’s successes are very much their own and have been achieved through hard work and dedication, their achievements reflect the talent and commitment we see in so many team members across PKF Smith Cooper.

“Our values-driven culture aims to provide ambitious individuals with the support and training they need to reach their potential at every stage of their careers, while also making the most of the opportunities that our company offers people away from their desks, from sporting events, book club and firm-wide parties to getting involved in team-run committees.”

Greg Whiting, Training and Compliance Director at PKF Smith Cooper, nominated Helena for the Howitt Prize. He commented:

“The Howitt Prize is a highly coveted award and recognises special contributions outside of routine work and home commitments. I will only nominate a student if I genuinely believe that they have made a real effort to give back to others by taking on roles outside of their work responsibilities and social life.

"With Helena, I recognised that she has committed herself to give back in many different ways, whilst still managing to focus and achieve her work and study commitments. The award of the Howitt Prize is a just reward that she should be very proud of, and I hope it will inspire other students to follow her example.”

Helena said:

“I am immensely proud and honoured not only to be nominated for this award but also to have the privilege of winning it, recognising the dedication and effort behind this achievement. Also, thank you to Greg Whiting for the support and nomination for this award."

Dave said:

“It's always nice to feel that your hard work has paid off so winning the award was a great bonus on top of the excitement of qualifying.”

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