A Sutton woman has received a top honour from an international accountancy body.

Sarah Knight has been awarded the premier prize for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

The £1,000 award is given annually by the Association of Accounting Tech-nicians (AAT).

Mrs Knight, who works as a finance officer at University Academy Keighley and is a governor at Eastburn Junior and Infant School, is studying towards chartered accountancy and an Open University management qualification.

She was among six people – from more than 430 – chosen to attend the interview stage of the awards scheme in London before being announced as the winner.

Mrs Knight, 31, said: “I was overwhelmed when I got the call to say I’d won – I couldn’t speak initially, but had to pull myself together as we were in the middle of the year-end audit!

“I worked hard on producing pieces of work that not only were enjoyable for the reader, but also portrayed my core values and ethics towards accountancy and professional development.”

AAT membership co-ordinator, Alek-sandra Trzmiel, said: “Sarah demonstrated an array of CPD undertaken across a variety of different platforms, including reading, further study, creative writing and mentoring. She has shown a strong drive and determination in achieving her learning goals, and she sets a great example to other members.”