Students currently completing a graduate training programme with accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael have performed exceptionally well in their latest batch of industry exams.

The firm's 20 students passed all of their Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) exams - which equates to a total of 47 exams - at the first sitting.

Nine of the students are now either exam qualified or fully qualified with the Institute.

Claire Cargill, from Arbroath, who works in Johnston Carmichael's Aberdeen office, feels the firm's comprehensive training and development programme played a major part in the students' achievements.

The 24-year-old said: "We all worked very hard to study and prepare for the exams so we're delighted to have recorded such impressive pass rates."

"Johnston Carmichael's training scheme undoubtedly played a key role in us achieving the results, with the support and guidance we've received from the firm proving to be invaluable as we embark on careers in accountancy."

Iain Abernethy, Johnston Carmichael's Learning and Development Director, added: "The students worked extremely hard to achieve these exam passes."

 "The support we offer is a fundamental part of the development process for the students, as no matter how successful a graduate has been whilst studying at school or university, they can struggle with the demands of attaining the ICAS qualification." 

"Our method is to treat each student as an individual and understand their own personal learning style.  We have a structured and practical training programme for the students, which involves a tremendous network of support, including buddy and mentor schemes, flexi-time and study time and attendance at internal training events."

Johnston Carmichael - which has 45 partners and over 420 staff across its 11 offices - is the largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers in Scotland. The firm was recently named one of Best Companies to Work For in the UK, coming in at number 92 in the Sunday Times Top 100 list.

The organisation has specialist expertise across a number of sectors including construction, agriculture and rural property, energy services, engineering, fishing, food and food processing, hospitality, dentistry, pharmacy, medical, healthcare and professional services.

For further information about Johnston Carmichael, please call 01224 212 222 or visit http://www.jcca.co.uk/.