A TRAINEE accountant based in Ipswich has come top in the region's professional accountancy exams, scoring the highest mark of any student in East Anglia in the financial reporting paper.

A TRAINEE accountant based in Ipswich has come top in the region's professional accountancy exams, scoring the highest mark of any student in East Anglia in the financial reporting paper.

Aimee Sharland, 23, who is based at the Ipswich offices of East Anglian accountants and business advisers PKF took the examination as part of a three-year training course to become a fully-qualified member o the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Ms Sharland, who has 'A' Levels in French, maths and chemistry and passed her Association of Accounting Technicians exams with flying colours last year, said: “I'm delighted to have done so well. It was a big challenge and I worked really hard. Now all I've got to do is keep the momentum going for the rest of my training.”

Graham Randall, PKF partner in charge of Ipswich and one of the partners responsible for hiring recruits, said: “This is an excellent result for Aimee and a just reward for all the effort she put into her studies. It's also a great result for the firm.”