Helen Brand, chief executive of global accountancy body ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has been awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Official Birthday Honours list today (11 June 2011).

Speaking of the honour, Helen Brand says: “I am delighted to be honoured in this way. It came as a complete surprise, a very pleasant one, but a surprise nonetheless.

“I truly believe that this honour is in recognition of ACCA’s success, of which I am extremely proud to have played a part, alongside its members, students and its staff around the world.”

Helen Brand became chief executive of ACCA on 1 September 2008. Under Helen’s direction, ACCA offers business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world, who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

Helen is also a member of the Prince of Wales’ Accounting for Sustainability Supervisory Board which works to ensure that integrated reporting is embedded into organisations’ DNA.

With a keen focus on key global relationship management for ACCA, Helen is particularly interested in the development of the accountancy profession in emerging economies around the world. Helen has considerable experience and knowledge of the 170 markets in which ACCA currently operates, and has worked closely with the US-based IFAC (the International Federation of Accountants) in an advisory capacity.

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For further information, please contact:

Nick Cosgrove, ACCA Newsroom
+44 (0)20 7059 5989
+44 (0)7963 496144
nick.cosgrove@accaglobal.com

Helen Thompson, ACCA Newsroom
+44 (0)20 7059 5759
+44 (0)7725 498654
helen.thompson@accaglobal.com