We’re delighted to share that Abi Wilson, our Head of Audit, has been named one of Ignition’s Top 50 Women in Accounting.
Since 2018, the award has worked to recognise women in a profession where they are still overlooked and judged more harshly than their male colleagues.
The 2026 awards focus on igniting change, celebrating the transformative effect the listed individuals have had on their firms and the wider profession.
Abi’s inclusion is a remarkable achievement, given the award considers professionals from over 20 different countries. She is one of only 13 women from the United Kingdom to feature in this year’s Top 50 and she has played an integral part in the new direction we have taken since our founding partners retired.
“It has been an exciting time for the firm and for me professionally,” Abi said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed getting involved and sharing my knowledge and insights to drive us towards growth that creates more opportunities.
“Being recognised like this is quite validating and I hope that it inspires other women to keep pushing forward with developing their own technical knowledge.”
Abi specialises in accounting and audit, alongside preparing monthly management information for clients. Her strong grounding in cloud accounting platforms including Sage and Xero has allowed her to play a vital role in the shift we have gone through as a firm.
Having only recently been made Head of Audit, Abi immediately demonstrated the value she could bring to such a senior position.
“I wanted to make sure that the solutions we found were the most effective ones, rather than finding one piece of technology and forcing it to fit every task.”
What really sets Abi apart is that she never wavered in her commitment to clients and her team even as she worked to help transform the firm.
“The majority of my time is spent completing technical, complex accounts, along with reviewing audit files and attending client meetings, which require precision in their approach so that clients know that they are receiving accurate information that can reveal deeper insights about their operations,” she said.
“I want clients to understand their financial position so that they can make the right decisions that lead to meaningful and sustainable growth. It has been interesting balancing our efforts to grow and change while helping clients do the same.”
Abi also helps build the confidence and skills of the new professionals joining us and serves as an ICAEW Student Counsellor, supporting the next generation of trainees through their qualifications.
Dan Sayers, our director, said: “Abi is a real asset to the team and making her Head of Audit was a no-brainer.
“Not only does she provide consistently high-quality work for clients, she also pours her expertise into the firm itself and builds our team through her insights.
“Her mentorship extends beyond the incoming accountants as she focuses time on keeping up to date with all relevant changes in legislation. She also runs internal training sessions to keep the rest of the firm aware of changes and how to communicate them to clients without draining the time of the other talented individuals here.
“As such, Abi is able to excel in her own capacity as an accountant while also endeavouring to draw out the full potential of all around her.”
You can find the full list of Ignition’s Top 50 Women in Accounting here: https://womeninaccounting.ignitionapp.com/top-50
To find out more about us, visit MJ Bushell at www.mjbushell.co.uk