Access Accountancy appoints Hazel Garvey as its new chair

Access Accountancy, has announced the appointment of Hazel Garvey, Managing Director, Education and Training, ICAEW, as its new chair. She takes over from Sharon Spice following her departure from ICAEW in September.

Access Accountancy works to ensure that everyone has an equal chance of accessing, and progressing within the accountancy profession based on merit, not background. Since being established in 2014, Access Accountancy has collaborated with over 26 organisations and professional bodies, to help improve access and progression to the accountancy profession. Nearly 5,000 work experience places have been offered to students that meet Access Accountancy’s criteria since 2015.

Hazel has over 30 years’ experience in the accountancy profession and has worked in practice and areas including recruitment, marketing, business development, as well as education and training.

Commenting on her appointment, Hazel Garvey said:

“The work of Access Accountancy is hugely important, so I’m delighted to become its new chair.  We’re seeing that employers want to attract students from more diverse backgrounds but are sometimes struggling to recruit enough people to the profession. We want to make accountancy more attractive and accessible, especially given how transferable the skills are. What other qualification gives you the opportunity to work with so many businesses across so many different industries?

“I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to start my accountancy training as a school leaver, so my aim is to encourage more employers to join Access Accountancy and bring more students through the programme.

“I’d like to thank outgoing chair Sharon Spice for all her hard work over the last 18 months and look forward to continuing efforts to build a more diverse, inclusive and accessible profession.”