Pauline Manuel, Assistant Audit Manager at PKF Smith Cooper, was awarded the prestigious Howitt Prize at the Nottingham Chartered Accountants Students’ Society (NCASS) 2026 annual ball on 6th November.
Pictured: Katie March, Laura Meadows, Hollie Kemp, Laura Watt, Jess Beiley
The Howitt Prize is awarded to the newly qualified member of NCASS who is judged to have best-acquitted themselves to become a chartered accountant. The award honours Pauline Manuel’s academic commitment and the wider contribution she has made to her student society and firm.
Pauline has held several positions of responsibility within NCASS, demonstrating her dedication to the society and her peers. In her time at PKF Smith Cooper, she has assisted with the recruitment of undergraduates to ACA training contracts and acted as a mentor to these new students, going above and beyond expectations in supporting them.
Greg Whiting, Training and Compliance Director at PKF Smith Cooper, commented: “I am exceptionally proud of the outstanding work ethic demonstrated by Pauline, which mirrors the principles embodied at our firm. Alongside studying for her ACA qualification, she has fostered strong relationships across the firm as well as demonstrating leadership skills when mentoring new students. I would like to thank NCASS for organising another excellent event and for recognising another one of our firm’s hard-working team members.”
This marks the third consecutive year that a representative of PKF Smith Cooper has earned the Howitt Prize, with Matt Laurenti winning it in 2025 and Helena Sale in 2024.
PKF Smith Cooper prides itself on creating a culture where careers can flourish. Pauline was unable to accept the award in person as she is currently undertaking a secondment in Australia, an opportunity offered through the PKF Global network which allows team members to extend their knowledge of international business and regulation whilst being immersed in another country. This initiative enables qualified PKF Smith Cooper personnel to establish connections at one of PKF’s global offices, spanning 150 countries.
