A keen charity fundraiser who works with a Carlisle accountancy firm is in the running for a national finance industry award.

Nicole Hagan-Kidd, payroll administrator at Armstrong Watson, has been shortlisted for Payroll Professional of the Year 2018 at the International Association of Bookkeepers’ (IAB) Awards.

She said: “For me payroll is a fundamental aspect of any business no matter how big or how small, which sometimes gets forgotten about in the world of business.

“I was first attracted to working in a payroll bureau because of the job versatility and the different processes involved in end to end payroll.

"In my current payroll administrator role, I am responsible for the processing of 100 plus clients all with different pay frequencies, therefore no two days are ever the same.

"Being shortlisted for the IAB Payroll Professional of the Year award is an honour and is completely overwhelming.

"To win the award would be an incredible achievement which I would be extremely proud of. To win this award this early in my career would give me huge confidence to progress further and continue to work towards being a senior member of the team.”

Nicole began working at Armstrong Watson LLP just over two years ago, starting off as a general administrator before progressing to payroll administrator. She is now in her second year of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals’ (CIPP) foundation degree in payroll management and will graduate in 2020.

She has been involved with charity fundraising for several different charities including running the Great North Run for Make a Wish Foundation, the Pretty Muddy 5k for Cancer Research and a midnight zip wire challenge for Teenage Cancer Trust.

She also gets involved with charity fundraising with Armstrong Watson LLP offices.

The IAB Awards Ceremony will be held on December 6 at Westminster Palace and will be hosted by Fabian Hamilton MP.