Leading accountancy firm Whitley Stimpson has bucked the trend with its appointment of Laura Adkins, 29, from Witney, as Partner. Laura will become the firm’s second female Partner from 1 July 2013 and Whitley Stimpson is the only accountancy firm with female Partners in Banbury.
According to the 2012 AccountancyAge 50+50 survey, fewer than 15% of Partners in the country’s top 50 firms are female which doesn’t reflect the number of women entering the profession. Yet female trainees perform just as well as their male counterparts, and at the point of qualification, the gender split is approximately equal.
Malcolm Higgs, Senior Partner of Whitley Simpson comments: “On behalf of the firm I would like to extend our congratulations to Laura for making Partner. Since joining Whitley Stimpson as a graduate, Laura’s performance and commitment to her growing client base has been exemplary making her a fantastic role model for female graduates seeking a progressive career in accountancy and business advice.”
Originally from Yarnton and now living in Witney, Laura joined Whitley Stimpson in 2005 after graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a First Class BSc. Hons. In Economics. She gained her ACA qualification in September 2008 and became a registered auditor at the firm in February this year.
“I’m delighted to have made Partner which is a huge achievement and has been my goal for some time,” comments Laura. “Whitley Stimpson has provided me with fantastic support over the last eight years. Not only have I been able to progress in my career through ongoing training and professional development with Whitley Stimpson, changes in my personal life, due to the birth of my daughter, have also been fully supported by the firm. There is absolutely no reason why more women shouldn’t make Partner in the accountancy sector and hope that I can inspire more local graduates to enter our profession.”
Whitley Stimpson’s accountancy specialists have provided financial advice to businesses and individuals for more than 80 years. The firm is an authorised ICAEW training employer with an acknowledged reputation for providing a structured programme of comprehensive internal seminars and highly respected industry-run courses.
Laura specialises in providing accountancy and business advice to SME’s in West and North Oxfordshire, including start-ups and family run businesses. For further information and a FREE consultation, contact: Laura Adkins on 01295 270200 or email:lauraa@whitleystimpson.co.uk