Final year Accounting students judged to have presented the best company study were rewarded with a £100 prize.

The company study is a project done by groups of students in their final year of the Accounting degree framework.

It consists of a 10,000 word report and a 20 minute presentation analysing aspects of a company including its financial management, corporate governance and strategy.

Of 28 groups, the best four were selected to present in front of Lesley Fox from Mazars – a company which specialises in audit, tax and advisory services, and sponsors the company study project.

Lesley said that all of the groups impressed with clear and incisive presentations on companies including brewery SAB Miller, Whitbread Plc (who own companies like Costa and Premier Inn), and real estate company British Land.

But she chose final year Accounting and Finance students Alexander Brooke, Daniel Frampton, Ivy Lappin and Rahim Bah as winners for their presentation on mining company BHP Billiton.

Lesley said that it was a “very tough decision” to make.

She said: “I was very impressed – they all had a professional approach to the presentations and were very clear. The knowledge of the companies they were studying was also strong.

“We have sponsored the project for a number of years now. It gives the students that interaction with local businesses and a chance to present in front of an external contact, with an outside opinion.”

She added that the winners impressed with the way they responded to questions and presented as a team.

Each member of the winning team received £100 from Mazars, and will also be presented with a certificate during their graduation ceremonies.

Daniel Frampton from the team said: “The competition was really good. Everyone was great so it was really good to be named as winner. The rest of the guys did extremely well.”

Ivy Lappin added: “It has been challenging but we have come through it, and I feel more confident about my presentation skills and teamwork now.”