AN EASTRY accountant has been shortlisted for a national award by the magazine Accountancy Age.

Mike Sole has been a partner in Batchelor Coop Chartered Accountants, Mill Lane, since the beginning of 2002. He joined the firm in 1995.

Mr Sole, who was commended for his "imaginative marketing", said: "I was surprised and delighted to be nominated for this award."

He said he had to pay credit to the team of staff at Batchelor Coop for their hard work.

One of five nominees for the AAT accounting technician of the year, he was nominated for the award by his partners who have been impressed with the qualities that he has brought to the firm since his promotion to partner last year.

Partner Mark Batchelor said: "Quite simply, inviting Mike to become a partner in Batchelor Coop was one of the best business decisions that we have ever made.

"He has also taken on the roles of training partner and staff recruitment, releasing other partners from these roles and improved the quality of our training and staff at the same time.

Mike has also worked with other self-employed accountants during the last year to reform the continuing professional development scheme for the Association of Accounting Technicians.

The awards ceremony takes place on November 12, at Battersea Park Arena in London.