More than a dozen ACA-qualified Chartered Accountants have collected accolades in King Charles III’s first Birthday Honours List, with members recognised for their use of professional skills as well as dedication to voluntary causes. 

Historic England Chief Executive Duncan Wilson was awarded a CBE for services to heritage. The organisation formed in 2015 out of English Heritage, after the new English Heritage Trust took on management of the government’s historic properties. It runs all the advice in the planning system on listed buildings, as well as overseeing the listing process itself, plus work on scheduling, research, monuments and both ground and underwater archaeology.

Wilson says the accolade recognises the work of his organisation every bit as much as it recognises him. “We’ve made a real impact in demonstrating that heritage is not an obscure subject pursued by a handful of enthusiasts. It really matters to people. 

“In our High Streets Heritage Action Zone scheme – where we’re investing in 60 high streets throughout the country to support cultural programmes and repair buildings – we’re showing that heritage is an important part of the high street revival. In lockdown, lots of people realised the value of the heritage around them and we’ve built on that.”

Supportive jobs

Honoured with an MBE for services to association football, referee Amy Fearn says she senses that the public is increasingly aware of the hard work and dedication that referees must put into getting even as far as grassroots football. “You must go through all the courses and train – plus, there’s the physical side of the game and the importance of knowing the laws,” she says. “It’s a big process.”

Fearn began refereeing at age 13 and later took a traditional degree path into accountancy, training with PwC. “Throughout my career, even though I’ve faced pressures and timelines at work, there has always been that element of flexibility to get away for a game – or, if I’ve had a FIFA trip, we’ve been able to work around that. So, as a Chartered Accountant, I’ve always been in supportive jobs.

“You can’t always make a bad game good – but if you have an off day, you can make a good game bad. So you can have a massive impact on the flow of play. When it goes well, it’s the best feeling in the world,” she adds. 

Sandeep Dwesar, former Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Barbican Centre, now Deputy Chair at Shakespeare’s Globe, was awarded an MBE for public service in the City of London. Dwesar, who is also a Trustee of the charity Help Musicians UK, says: “Culture and the work that these organisations do are absolutely vital for the development of people living in this most fantastic city, which is so rich in the arts. If I’ve played a small part in supporting that resource, that’s terrific.” 

Every metric you use to gauge the value of arts and culture in society yields extraordinary results, Dwesar adds. “Even if you are looking at it from a narrow, economic perspective, this industry is hugely valuable to us – not just in terms of our national brand, but for the regeneration benefits it brings.”

Dwesar believes public appreciation of the value of public arts has grown in the wake of the pandemic because they were cut off for so long. “I've seen young kids from deprived areas who’ve been given access to culture and it’s hugely beneficial for their education and confidence – but also, it’s just great fun.”

Real difference

Debbie Blackburn, Assistant Principal, Finance, at Aquinas College in Stockport, received an MBE for services to further education. Blackburn says the dedication and commitment of her colleagues gives her space to participate in National Policy Groups alongside the Department for Education.

“Working in this sector for most of my career has been a privilege. I have used my professional qualification to support the vital work of post-16 education, making a real difference to the life chances of thousands of young people,” Blackburn says.

Receiving a BEM for services to young people in Buckinghamshire, YMCA Milton Keynes Trustee Preston Ayres says: “While I have directed the finances here over many years, I dedicate this award to the amazing staff team that works tirelessly every day to help so many young people make a better life for themselves.”

Ayres adds: “It’s well known that the King has spent decades helping young people. The new 206-bed campus that we opened in 2020 is very much working in the same direction as the Prince of Wales’s newly launched Homewards programme.”

Here are the other honourees from ICAEW’s membership:

A knighthood goes to…

Jeremy Darroch Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Reckitt, WWF Ambassador and former Chair of Business in the Community, for services to business, charity and sustainability.

CBEs goes to…

Ian Kenyon Director, Finance and Programmes, Defence Nuclear Organisation, Ministry of Defence, for services to public finance and volunteering.

Albert Mena,  Financial Secretary, Government of Gibraltar. For services to His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar.

MBEs go to…

Ann Chalmers Chief Executive, Child Bereavement UK, for services to bereaved children, young people, parents and families.

Michael Gibbons Commissioner Operations, St John Ambulance, for voluntary service.

Andrew Laver Managing Director, Laver Regeneration Ltd and former leader of the Industrial Centres of Excellence scheme, for services to Education in Bradford.

Prodaman Sarwal Lately Trustee, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and Chair, Master Ropemakers Ltd, for services to heritage and the charitable sector.

Yui Chit Daniel Chan, Honorary Treasurer and Trustee, UK Youth, for services to charity and to young people. 

OBEs go to…

Anuj Chande Partner, Grant Thornton, for services to international trade and investment.

Paula Hay-Plumb Board Counsellor, The Crown Estate, for services to the public sector.