MEET THE WINNERS
The judges whittled scores of entries down to the final 35 CA Rising Stars of 2026 that they felt best embodied the ambition and full potential of the qualification. Now we reveal the winner in each category, as well as one highly commended entrant and the overall winner
MEET THE WINNERS
The judges whittled scores of entries down to the final 35 CA Rising Stars of 2026 that they felt best embodied the ambition and full potential of the qualification. Now we reveal the winner in each category, as well as one highly commended entrant and the overall winner
Last month, the finalists from CA Rising Stars 2026 assembled in the Oxo Tower in London to learn which of them would win their individual categories and who would be named the overall winner. The standard was so high, we also added a special award on the night for a ‘highly commended’ entry.
The ceremony began with a speech by ICAS CEO Gail Boag who said: “Across the entries, we saw individuals leading in areas that truly matter: ethics and trust, technology and digital transformation, sustainability and climate action, diversity and inclusion, community leadership and social impact. Now, these are not abstract ambitions; these are real actions making a real difference to our clients, our organisations, and to society itself.
“Whether you are an employer, a mentor, a colleague or perhaps a future nominee, I encourage you to continue championing rising talent across the profession.
“Because when we invest in people with purpose, ambition and integrity, we strengthen not only our organisations but society as a whole.”
CA magazine spoke to each of the winners to discover more about their stories, and to hear how each of them is making a difference in their chosen field. We start with our overall winner, Jemima Jacobs CA. Later this year Jemima will represent ICAS and Chartered Accountants Worldwide at the One Young World Summit in Cape Town.
Here Jemima and her fellow winners talk about their careers to date – and the outstanding work that has made them all CA Rising Stars of 2026.
CA Rising Stars 2026 top 35
CA Rising Stars 2026 top 35
Last month, the finalists from CA Rising Stars 2026 assembled in the Oxo Tower in London to learn which of them would win their individual categories and who would be named the overall winner. The standard was so high, we also added a special award on the night for a ‘highly commended’ entry.
Members assemble
Members assemble
The ceremony began with a speech by ICAS CEO Gail Boag who said: “Across the entries, we saw individuals leading in areas that truly matter: ethics and trust, technology and digital transformation, sustainability and climate action, diversity and inclusion, community leadership and social impact. Now, these are not abstract ambitions; these are real actions making a real difference to our clients, our organisations, and to society itself.
The CA Rising Stars 2026 top 35 award
The CA Rising Stars 2026 top 35 award
“Whether you are an employer, a mentor, a colleague or perhaps a future nominee, I encourage you to continue championing rising talent across the profession.
“Because when we invest in people with purpose, ambition and integrity, we strengthen not only our organisations but society as a whole.”
President David Cruickshank CA
President David Cruickshank CA
CA magazine spoke to each of the winners to discover more about their stories, and to hear how each of them is making a difference in their chosen field. We start with our overall winner, Jemima Jacobs CA. Later this year Jemima will represent ICAS and Chartered Accountants Worldwide at the One Young World Summit in Cape Town.
Here Jemima and her fellow winners talk about their careers to date – and the outstanding work that has made them all CA Rising Stars of 2026.
CA Rising Stars 2026 top 35
CA Rising Stars 2026 top 35
Members assemble
Members assemble
The CA Rising Stars 2026 top 35 award
The CA Rising Stars 2026 top 35 award
President David Cruickshank CA
President David Cruickshank CA
Jemima Jacobs CA
Vice-President, Bank of America
Overall Winner
‘I never imagined where being a CA would take me’
Being named the overall winner of the CA Rising Stars awards came as a genuine surprise. I was already delighted to be shortlisted for the Community and Social Value category, particularly because it provided an opportunity to shine a light on the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), a cause that is deeply personal to me and one I am proud to support.
I contracted life-threatening bacterial meningitis W in my third year at the University of St Andrews – and only narrowly survived. My academic year was the last to go to university without the MenACWY vaccine (those starting a year later had it as part of the vaccination programme), so I was just unlucky. A MenB vaccination programme is now being rolled out to Year 13 students and university freshers for this upcoming year. I hope this is the start of a wider, more sustained NHS vaccination programme for teens and young adults.
When I joined the MRF board, they were looking for somebody with a background in technology and finance, as well as lived experience of the disease. Serving as a trustee has given me the opportunity to apply my CA skills in a different environment, helping to shape the charity’s governance and strategic direction, while also learning about the science behind meningitis. Attending conferences where leading healthcare professionals and researchers are present has been both fascinating and humbling.
Fundraising has always been challenging for the charity sector, and the current geopolitical environment, including the US withdrawing from the World Health Organisation, is creating additional pressures on vaccination funding globally, making MRF’s work, to defeat meningitis by 2030, more important than ever. I’m proud to play my part in fundraising for MRF, recently raising over £3,000 by completing the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge (running more than 100km over two days) and next year I’m taking on the London Marathon.
After graduating with an MA in classics from the University of St Andrews, I relocated to EY Jersey where I began my CA qualification working in the technology risk assurance team. Being based in Jersey meant excellent exposure to financial services clients and opportunities to take on early responsibility. After qualifying, I joined the internal technology audit team at the Bank of America in London. My role involves assessing the bank’s technology processes, controls and governance frameworks, identifying and validating issues, and helping senior stakeholders navigate emerging technology risks.
When I was applying for graduate roles as a student, I never imagined where being a CA would take me. The qualification has enabled me to build a career at the intersection of technology, risk and financial services, while also giving me the skills and confidence to contribute beyond my day job through charity governance. It has been an incredibly rewarding journey, and one that continues to open doors in ways I could never have anticipated.
As a result of this award, I will have the privilege of representing ICAS at the One Young World Summit in Cape Town later this year. I am incredibly excited to visit South Africa and to connect with inspiring young leaders from around the world. I am particularly looking forward to exploring how technology, governance and responsible leadership can help address some of the challenges facing society today.
Jemima Jacobs CA
Vice-President, Bank of America
Overall Winner
‘I never imagined where being a CA would take me’
Being named the overall winner of the CA Rising Stars awards came as a genuine surprise. I was already delighted to be shortlisted for the Community and Social Value category, particularly because it provided an opportunity to shine a light on the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), a cause that is deeply personal to me and one I am proud to support.
I contracted life-threatening bacterial meningitis W in my third year at the University of St Andrews – and only narrowly survived. My academic year was the last to go to university without the MenACWY vaccine (those starting a year later had it as part of the vaccination programme), so I was just unlucky. A MenB vaccination programme is now being rolled out to Year 13 students and university freshers for this upcoming year. I hope this is the start of a wider, more sustained NHS vaccination programme for teens and young adults.
When I joined the MRF board, they were looking for somebody with a background in technology and finance, as well as lived experience of the disease. Serving as a trustee has given me the opportunity to apply my CA skills in a different environment, helping to shape the charity’s governance and strategic direction, while also learning about the science behind meningitis. Attending conferences where leading healthcare professionals and researchers are present has been both fascinating and humbling.
Fundraising has always been challenging for the charity sector, and the current geopolitical environment, including the US withdrawing from the World Health Organisation, is creating additional pressures on vaccination funding globally, making MRF’s work, to defeat meningitis by 2030, more important than ever. I’m proud to play my part in fundraising for MRF, recently raising over £3,000 by completing the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge (running more than 100km over two days) and next year I’m taking on the London Marathon.
After graduating with an MA in classics from the University of St Andrews, I relocated to EY Jersey where I began my CA qualification working in the technology risk assurance team. Being based in Jersey meant excellent exposure to financial services clients and opportunities to take on early responsibility. After qualifying, I joined the internal technology audit team at the Bank of America in London. My role involves assessing the bank’s technology processes, controls and governance frameworks, identifying and validating issues, and helping senior stakeholders navigate emerging technology risks.
When I was applying for graduate roles as a student, I never imagined where being a CA would take me. The qualification has enabled me to build a career at the intersection of technology, risk and financial services, while also giving me the skills and confidence to contribute beyond my day job through charity governance. It has been an incredibly rewarding journey, and one that continues to open doors in ways I could never have anticipated.
As a result of this award, I will have the privilege of representing ICAS at the One Young World Summit in Cape Town later this year. I am incredibly excited to visit South Africa and to connect with inspiring young leaders from around the world. I am particularly looking forward to exploring how technology, governance and responsible leadership can help address some of the challenges facing society today.
Cameron Dunlop CA
Associate Finance Business Partner, Stansted Airport
‘I’m a firm believer in giving back’
Since becoming a CA five years ago, I’ve said yes to every opportunity that has come my way. That can be a bit overwhelming at times, but I’ve learned that when you take those opportunities it opens other doors.
I grew up in Musselburgh and studied accounting and finance at Strathclyde University, then did my CA training with support from the ICAS Foundation. Three years ago I moved to Grant Thornton in Cambridge before the opportunity to join Stansted Airport came up.
I wanted to get more involved in the day-to-day running of the business, and to be the link between finance and operations. So that means being the key contact for the heads of departments – baggage, cleaning, engineering, security, etc – and to be that person who understands the operational side, but can also translate finance to non-financial people and apply what I learned in my CA training.
The airport is a major European hub, and will have an annual passenger capacity of 51 million by 2040. I have supported the development of the Stansted Chaplaincy Charity, which aims to provide a fully inclusive pastoral, humanitarian and wellbeing care service to passengers and airport staff of several different faiths, as well as additional support to the local community.
On our busiest days the airport has well over 100,000 passengers arriving and departing –it’s like a small city in that respect. It can, at times, be a very stressful environment, so the chaplaincy is there to provide support and somebody to talk to for whatever reason.
I’m a firm believer in trying to give back but also trying to create opportunities. At Stansted I led the planning and delivery of five internships and work-experience placements in the finance team, ranging from school students to undergraduates, some of whom will come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The support I got from ICAS Foundation, not just financially but also through having a mentor, was incredibly important, so two years ago I began mentoring with the foundation myself. I also joined the ICAS Qualifications Board.
My aspirations are to have a positive impact, and hopefully one day that leads to becoming part of a senior management team.
Cameron Dunlop CA
Associate Finance Business Partner, Stansted Airport
‘I’m a firm believer in giving back’
Since becoming a CA five years ago, I’ve said yes to every opportunity that has come my way. That can be a bit overwhelming at times, but I’ve learned that when you take those opportunities it opens other doors.
I grew up in Musselburgh and studied accounting and finance at Strathclyde University, then did my CA training with support from the ICAS Foundation. Three years ago I moved to Grant Thornton in Cambridge before the opportunity to join Stansted Airport came up.
I wanted to get more involved in the day-to-day running of the business, and to be the link between finance and operations. So that means being the key contact for the heads of departments – baggage, cleaning, engineering, security, etc – and to be that person who understands the operational side, but can also translate finance to non-financial people and apply what I learned in my CA training.
The airport is a major European hub, and will have an annual passenger capacity of 51 million by 2040. I have supported the development of the Stansted Chaplaincy Charity, which aims to provide a fully inclusive pastoral, humanitarian and wellbeing care service to passengers and airport staff of several different faiths, as well as additional support to the local community.
On our busiest days the airport has well over 100,000 passengers arriving and departing –it’s like a small city in that respect. It can, at times, be a very stressful environment, so the chaplaincy is there to provide support and somebody to talk to for whatever reason.
I’m a firm believer in trying to give back but also trying to create opportunities. At Stansted I led the planning and delivery of five internships and work-experience placements in the finance team, ranging from school students to undergraduates, some of whom will come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The support I got from ICAS Foundation, not just financially but also through having a mentor, was incredibly important, so two years ago I began mentoring with the foundation myself. I also joined the ICAS Qualifications Board.
My aspirations are to have a positive impact, and hopefully one day that leads to becoming part of a senior management team.
The top 35 CA Rising Stars 2026 (minus a few absentees), flanked by President David Cruickshank and CEO Gail Boag
The top 35 CA Rising Stars 2026 (minus a few absentees), flanked by President David Cruickshank and CEO Gail Boag
Koyejo Abraham CA
Commercial Finance, Advertising, Microsoft Gaming
‘Training with ICAS was one of the best career decisions I’ve made’
I’m delighted to win this award. I didn’t start my career as a CA, I started on the trading floor selling government bonds, so it was a bit of an early pivot, but training with ICAS was one of the best career decisions I’ve made.
The training I received between ICAS and EY really allowed me to understand what drives value for businesses, and it’s been so valuable for my career so far.
Currently, I’m at Microsoft Gaming. Every company has finance and strategy roles, but it’s important to work for an organisation that does something you’re interested in, as it makes it much easier to engage with the business.
I’m also passionate about encouraging people from diverse backgrounds to join the profession. I recently became co-Chair of the ICAS Black Members’ Network.
One thing that would be great to achieve would be to connect with more people at the stage where they might be thinking about their profession and get more of them to consider becoming CAs.
From personal experience and from connecting with various members, it is clear that the qualification opens doors throughout finance and beyond. So it’s just about making more people aware of the options that are open to them, especially with the skills that a CA can bring to the table.
Koyejo Abraham CA
Commercial Finance, Advertising, Microsoft Gaming
‘Training with ICAS was one of the best career decisions I’ve made’
I’m delighted to win this award. I didn’t start my career as a CA, I started on the trading floor selling government bonds, so it was a bit of an early pivot, but training with ICAS was one of the best career decisions I’ve made.
The training I received between ICAS and EY really allowed me to understand what drives value for businesses, and it’s been so valuable for my career so far.
Currently, I’m at Microsoft Gaming. Every company has finance and strategy roles, but it’s important to work for an organisation that does something you’re interested in, as it makes it much easier to engage with the business.
I’m also passionate about encouraging people from diverse backgrounds to join the profession. I recently became co-Chair of the ICAS Black Members’ Network.
One thing that would be great to achieve would be to connect with more people at the stage where they might be thinking about their profession and get more of them to consider becoming CAs.
From personal experience and from connecting with various members, it is clear that the qualification opens doors throughout finance and beyond. So it’s just about making more people aware of the options that are open to them, especially with the skills that a CA can bring to the table.
Gaige Kinsella CA
AI & Intelligent Automation Strategist, EY
‘We should use AI to build technology that allows us a better of quality of life’
It’s immensely rewarding to be recognised by your peers for something you’re really passionate about, especially in a field that obviously resonated with the judges.
As an auditor or an accountant, there’s a high chance you already love data. But I hope what this shows is that you can take your CA qualification and training and apply it to technology.
Growing up, I was always good with numbers, and teachers said I should become an actuary. I had no idea what that was, so I searched online and it sounded like you spend your life calculating the risk of accidents. So I said, “No, thank you, that’s not for me.”
I went into accountancy, because I could still work solving problems on a daily basis. I now love helping clients to tackle whatever challenges they’re facing, which can change from one day to another.
The job I do is about transforming EY, but also external transformation for our clients – and we’re seeing that AI can have a positive effect on both sides.
In audit, traditionally you would always tend to have very long working weeks during the January to March period, delivering to critical deadlines. We’re seeing a move away from that now because technology can share some of that burden – that allows us to focus on improving quality and providing greater value to our clients.
But AI also makes mistakes. For example, a year ago if you asked ChatGPT or Claude how many ‘r’s there are in strawberry it would have given you the wrong answer. You can listen to some people and think that AI is going to replace jobs wholesale. But I genuinely believe the role of an accountant or an auditor will continue to be important and there will always be a need for a career which develops critical thinking and professional judgement.
We talk about being ‘the human in the loop’ and that needs to be a reality, not just a catchphrase. I believe we should be using AI to build technology that allows us a better of quality of life and a better work-life balance.
Gaige Kinsella CA
AI & Intelligent Automation Strategist, EY
‘We should use AI to build technology that allows us a better of quality of life’
It’s immensely rewarding to be recognised by your peers for something you’re really passionate about, especially in a field that obviously resonated with the judges.
As an auditor or an accountant, there’s a high chance you already love data. But I hope what this shows is that you can take your CA qualification and training and apply it to technology.
Growing up, I was always good with numbers, and teachers said I should become an actuary. I had no idea what that was, so I searched online and it sounded like you spend your life calculating the risk of accidents. So I said, “No, thank you, that’s not for me.”
I went into accountancy, because I could still work solving problems on a daily basis. I now love helping clients to tackle whatever challenges they’re facing, which can change from one day to another.
The job I do is about transforming EY, but also external transformation for our clients – and we’re seeing that AI can have a positive effect on both sides.
In audit, traditionally you would always tend to have very long working weeks during the January to March period, delivering to critical deadlines. We’re seeing a move away from that now because technology can share some of that burden – that allows us to focus on improving quality and providing greater value to our clients.
But AI also makes mistakes. For example, a year ago if you asked ChatGPT or Claude how many ‘r’s there are in strawberry it would have given you the wrong answer. You can listen to some people and think that AI is going to replace jobs wholesale. But I genuinely believe the role of an accountant or an auditor will continue to be important and there will always be a need for a career which develops critical thinking and professional judgement.
We talk about being ‘the human in the loop’ and that needs to be a reality, not just a catchphrase. I believe we should be using AI to build technology that allows us a better of quality of life and a better work-life balance.
The tension mounts in the Oxo Tower
The tension mounts in the Oxo Tower
The winners line up
The winners line up
Members mingle before the awards
Members mingle before the awards
CEO Gail Boag
CEO Gail Boag
Gemma Collings CA
Finance Director, Webmart
‘The CA is brilliant for anyone wants to make a difference’
Winning the Ethical Leadership award came as a massive surprise, and reading through what the other CAs had achieved made it all the more humbling. Ethics and acting with integrity mean a lot to me, both professionally and personally.
I wanted to become a CA because, as an accountant in a business, you’re never stuck in a silo – finance is the one department that touches every corner of a company from day one. I’m a bit of a ‘wider thinker’, so the idea of being woven into the whole business really appealed.
Webmart is a sustainable marketing agency. A lot of our work is about reducing the carbon impact of our clients’ campaigns: we calculate their marketing emissions, then help them cut them. Often it’s the smallest changes that make the biggest difference.
Leading our sustainability strategy is part of my role, and we hold ourselves to a high standard. Our own operational emissions are down more than 70% since 2021. A big part of our strategy is moving beyond simply reducing emissions towards becoming regenerative. This work helped win Webmart two major sustainability awards this year: Edie’s SME of the Year and a King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.
Webmart’s charity committee, which I sit on, has donated more than £1m to UK charities. We focus our partnerships on communities close to our HQ in Bicester and our northern office in Barnsley, and we’re careful to invest responsibly and to measure the difference we make.
Then there’s our Oxygen Farm, a 164-acre rewilding project in Scotland that I manage, held under a 200-year commitment with the Scottish government to restore the area for biodiversity. When we bought the land in 2014 it was a ‘black forest’ – so dense barely any light reached the ground.
We cleared some of it to let the light back in and, working with a local chartered forester, have planted 13,000 trees and created 26 ponds. Watching the place come back to life has been amazing – we’ve even found plant species that hadn’t been seen in the area since the 19th century.
Closer to home, I co-chair Oxfordshire+ B Local, which brings together more than 100 B Corps across the region. Webmart is B Corp certified, and plenty of other local businesses are curious about certifying too – though it’s a long process, two to three years. For me it’s all about what you can achieve as a community: bring a big group of businesses together, each with different specialisms, and there’s so much more you can do.
Mentoring through ICAS is something I value, too. It’s a great way to help others, and it’s collaborative, so I always learn something myself.
When I was training as a CA back in 2018, I didn’t imagine I could have the sustainability and social impact side too. But the CA qualification is brilliant for anyone who’s purpose-driven and wants to make a difference.
Gemma Collings CA
Finance Director, Webmart
‘The CA is brilliant for anyone wants to make a difference’
Winning the Ethical Leadership award came as a massive surprise, and reading through what the other CAs had achieved made it all the more humbling. Ethics and acting with integrity mean a lot to me, both professionally and personally.
I wanted to become a CA because, as an accountant in a business, you’re never stuck in a silo – finance is the one department that touches every corner of a company from day one. I’m a bit of a ‘wider thinker’, so the idea of being woven into the whole business really appealed.
Webmart is a sustainable marketing agency. A lot of our work is about reducing the carbon impact of our clients’ campaigns: we calculate their marketing emissions, then help them cut them. Often it’s the smallest changes that make the biggest difference.
Leading our sustainability strategy is part of my role, and we hold ourselves to a high standard. Our own operational emissions are down more than 70% since 2021. A big part of our strategy is moving beyond simply reducing emissions towards becoming regenerative. This work helped win Webmart two major sustainability awards this year: Edie’s SME of the Year and a King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.
Webmart’s charity committee, which I sit on, has donated more than £1m to UK charities. We focus our partnerships on communities close to our HQ in Bicester and our northern office in Barnsley, and we’re careful to invest responsibly and to measure the difference we make.
Then there’s our Oxygen Farm, a 164-acre rewilding project in Scotland that I manage, held under a 200-year commitment with the Scottish government to restore the area for biodiversity. When we bought the land in 2014 it was a ‘black forest’ – so dense barely any light reached the ground.
We cleared some of it to let the light back in and, working with a local chartered forester, have planted 13,000 trees and created 26 ponds. Watching the place come back to life has been amazing – we’ve even found plant species that hadn’t been seen in the area since the 19th century.
Closer to home, I co-chair Oxfordshire+ B Local, which brings together more than 100 B Corps across the region. Webmart is B Corp certified, and plenty of other local businesses are curious about certifying too – though it’s a long process, two to three years. For me it’s all about what you can achieve as a community: bring a big group of businesses together, each with different specialisms, and there’s so much more you can do.
Mentoring through ICAS is something I value, too. It’s a great way to help others, and it’s collaborative, so I always learn something myself.
When I was training as a CA back in 2018, I didn’t imagine I could have the sustainability and social impact side too. But the CA qualification is brilliant for anyone who’s purpose-driven and wants to make a difference.
Stephen Mahon CA
Accounting Manager, Zoom
‘Zoom acquiring Workvivo felt like the ultimate stamp of approval’
It was an honour just to make the top 35 CA Rising Stars 2026, let alone get the highly commended award. It’s great to get that external recognition for the work you do. Looking at the 35, there’s such a diverse range of companies and sectors in which people are excelling and leading.
I always wanted to work in business, but not necessarily in a traditional finance role. And the versatility that ICAS offers with its qualification really appealed to me.
I’m originally from Cork, and I moved to Edinburgh to be with my wife, who was studying at the university at the time. I remember one of the ICAS lecturers said this isn’t just an accountancy qualification, it’s like a global business degree. You are a CA but it might as well be chartered business adviser. You could be one of the business leaders of tomorrow.
I trained with Grant Thornton, then got a partner recommendation to move to its Melbourne office after I qualified. So being a CA opened up this opportunity to work and live abroad.
I had my first industry role in Australia, as Financial Controller at a security retailer called LSC. But there was this burgeoning tech scene in Cork, which is still growing. I moved back and joined Workvivo, which is a platform for improving employee engagement, set up in 2017.
I joined in 2022, when they had around 70–80 staff but no finance team. It was a great opportunity to help build the finance function from scratch. And that team were heavily involved in the due diligence for the company’s acquisition by Zoom the following year.
Another thing drilled into me during training is that not only are accountants supposed to act ethically, they need to be seen to act ethically as well. That rings as true today as it did when I qualified in 2014. Saying it is one thing, but putting it into practice – ensuring adequate, scalable systems and controls are in place, especially in a start-up environment – is another.
That a company the size of Zoom acquired Workvivo felt like the ultimate stamp of approval of that process – proof that we had done our own due diligence, dotted the ‘i’s and crossed the ‘t’s.
Stephen Mahon CA
Accounting Manager, Zoom
‘Zoom acquiring Workvivo felt like the ultimate stamp of approval’
It was an honour just to make the top 35 CA Rising Stars 2026, let alone get the highly commended award. It’s great to get that external recognition for the work you do. Looking at the 35, there’s such a diverse range of companies and sectors in which people are excelling and leading.
I always wanted to work in business, but not necessarily in a traditional finance role. And the versatility that ICAS offers with its qualification really appealed to me.
I’m originally from Cork, and I moved to Edinburgh to be with my wife, who was studying at the university at the time. I remember one of the ICAS lecturers said this isn’t just an accountancy qualification, it’s like a global business degree. You are a CA but it might as well be chartered business adviser. You could be one of the business leaders of tomorrow.
I trained with Grant Thornton, then got a partner recommendation to move to its Melbourne office after I qualified. So being a CA opened up this opportunity to work and live abroad.
I had my first industry role in Australia, as Financial Controller at a security retailer called LSC. But there was this burgeoning tech scene in Cork, which is still growing. I moved back and joined Workvivo, which is a platform for improving employee engagement, set up in 2017.
I joined in 2022, when they had around 70–80 staff but no finance team. It was a great opportunity to help build the finance function from scratch. And that team were heavily involved in the due diligence for the company’s acquisition by Zoom the following year.
Another thing drilled into me during training is that not only are accountants supposed to act ethically, they need to be seen to act ethically as well. That rings as true today as it did when I qualified in 2014. Saying it is one thing, but putting it into practice – ensuring adequate, scalable systems and controls are in place, especially in a start-up environment – is another.
That a company the size of Zoom acquired Workvivo felt like the ultimate stamp of approval of that process – proof that we had done our own due diligence, dotted the ‘i’s and crossed the ‘t’s.
Read more about the top 35 CA Rising Stars 2026 and learn why the judges chose them
Read more about the top 35 CA Rising Stars 2026 and learn why the judges chose them
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