The 2024 recipient for the BFA annual accounting scholarship, top year 12 accounting student at Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, has recently been announced as Joshua Thorby.

Currently in the midst of NCEA exams, Ben Claxton, Principal at Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, spoke on Joshua’s behalf, saying; 

“Joshua is a conscientious and reliable young man who came 1st in accounting at Level 3, even though he is a Year 12 student. He is returning to school next year to continue his secondary schooling.”

Last year’s winner, Nathaniel Higgins, already has his scholarship money well spent - it’s going straight to his tuition fees for Waikato University in 2025. Nathaniel says he plans to study accounting through their Bachelor of Business degree. And from there, one day he hopes to become a Chartered Accountant. Being awarded the scholarship, Nathaniel not only sees it as recognition for his achievements in his accounting class, but also as extra encouragement to pursue the first step in his career after school.   

“I’m very grateful to BFA for being kind enough to sponsor the award and give me this opportunity, and to my accounting teacher Mr Tinworth for all his help throughout the year in accounting.” 

This scholarship is just one of the ways BFA supports young people to learn and achieve in the accounting industry, with two currently working at BFA while studying, and another ex-Taupo-nui-a-Tia College student recently joining the team.   

"BFA believes in supporting our local community and we have always fostered having the next generation working in our business - it’s a proud history of ours since the founding partners established the firm,” says Nick Hume, BFA Director and Client Advisor. 

“These young people are the future of our ever changing industry - and it’s great that they are all locals too.”

And this kind of support is certainly something Ella-Rose Saunders is thankful for too. Torn between choosing farming or accounting after leaving school, she was able to secure a role at BFA sorting and prepping client records for starting a set of accounts. 

Now Ella-Rose has been with BFA for over a year, moved into an Emerging Client Manager role and is studying a Bachelor of Accounting through Massey University. It’s busy, but she is enjoying every part of it. 

“I like being able to look at a client’s financial position and pick up on the little things that could help them. And because I have a mentor here at BFA, I’m able to learn from her as well as put ‘two and two together’ when it comes to my studies and carrying out the accounting process in real life.”     

Being able to relate theory to actual clients is something Luke Steyn, also a Nui graduate, finds helpful too. He has just completed his internship with BFA, and is finishing his last year of University, and says that being able to learn both approaches side-by-side enabled things to ‘click’ a lot easier. 

“I’ve been able to do a variety of accounting-based practices, and have a better understanding of how it all works together. It’s also a really welcoming environment here, everyone is always happy to help and I’ve really enjoyed being involved in all sorts of businesses and industries.” 

And this is a sentiment Ella McQuilkin agrees with. After her final year at Nui, where she was a head student, she headed off to Victoria University to complete a degree in psychology. Ella then returned to Taupō looking for an administrative role and after gaining some bookkeeping skills at another job, she recently moved into an Emerging Client Manager with BFA. 

“It’s a really good place to work, with lots of skill sets and people to learn from. I don’t feel like I am at a disadvantage just because I haven’t done a degree. I will probably do a postgrad in professional accounting next year - not because I have to, but because I like to study - knowing I can stay at BFA and study part time and they will support me.”

As for the school, Principal Ben Claxton acknowledges having businesses such as BFA stepping up to provide mentoring and career opportunities for local rangatahi is so important. 

“We know education doesn't stop when young people step out of the classroom so we are extremely grateful to BFA for their involvement with our senior accounting students, and their support of our wider kura,” says Ben.

A big congratulations to Joshua from the team here at BFA.