Phoenix Brereton wins prestigious Charles Scott prize
The 2026 winners of the Charles Short prize, which is awarded annually by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), include Phoenix Brereton, a BA (Hons) Accounting student from Edinburgh Napier University.
The prize recognises exceptional academic performance and potential in accountancy, with each participating Scottish university identifying one student who has excelled within their cohort based on varied selection criteria.
“Working closely with our university partners to support excellence in accountancy education is vital to ensuring talented students have the foundations to thrive as the next generation of Chartered Accountants,” explained Cat Devaney CA, Executive Director of Learning at ICAS.
“The Charles Scott Prize is one of the ways ICAS celebrates and recognises the future leaders of our profession. We’re proud to honour these outstanding students from across Scotland and to support their journey into the world of accountancy. Their achievements are a testament to their hard work, talent and the success of our university partnerships.”
A delighted Phoenix (pictured seated right (credit: ICAS/Mike Wilkinson)) reflected on her success: “Winning the Charles Scott Prize was such a surprise and honestly something I never expected. It means a lot to be one of the 12 students recognised by ICAS.”
As winners, Phoenix and the other students, gained early professional recognition, opportunities to engage with ICAS, expert mentorship, and a £150 award to support her studies.
This year’s winners were invited to ICAS’ CA House in Edinburgh in August for an exclusive event. There, they gained insight into the journey behind gaining chartered status with ICAS, explored the breadth of opportunities the ICAS qualification can open up, and were able to start building their community within the profession.
“It was a fantastic experience,” added Phoenix. “I had the chance to meet so many inspiring people from across the profession and it made me even more excited about my future career.
“Accounting is such a broad course. I’ve had the opportunity to explore lots of different areas of accounting and finance, which has helped me discover where my interests might lie for the future.
“I’ve loved my time at Edinburgh Napier so much. Through group projects and classes, I’ve made some amazing friends and having that support network has made the experience even more rewarding.”
The annual award was established to honour the memory of Charles Alexander Scott CA (1902-1993) and to recognise academic excellence and the future of the profession.
Phoenix added: “For anyone considering a degree in accounting, my biggest piece of advice would be not to get discouraged if things feel challenging at first. Some topics can seem daunting, but once they start to click it’s incredibly rewarding and well worth the hard work.
“I’d also recommend staying on top of revision throughout the semester, finding study methods that work for you, and not being afraid to ask for help. The lecturers at Edinburgh Napier are incredibly supportive and genuinely want their students to succeed: reaching out whenever you feel you’re struggling can make a huge difference – and has for me many times throughout my studies.”
The full list of 2026 winners are:
- Phoenix Brereton, Edinburgh Napier University
- Madeleine Cruickshank, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
- Blair Hepburn, University of the West of Scotland
- Arslan Hojanazarov, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
- Alexander Hughes, The University of Edinburgh
- Aimee Kerr, University of Strathclyde
- Zoe Masting, University of Glasgow
- Corey Neilson, University of Stirling
- Holly Shand, University of Dundee
- Marisa Todd, Glasgow Caledonian University
- Vaila Wright, University of Aberdeen
- Pei zhu Yu, Abertay University, Dundee