A MALVERN firm of accountants is in line for a major national award.

Beacon Bookkeeping and Accountancy, based in the Wyche Innovation Centre in Walwyn Road, is a finalist in the British Accountancy Awards 2014 in the accountancy start-up category.

Katherine Baines, director of the firm, said: "It is wonderful to be chosen as a finalist in this category. Starting an accountancy practice from scratch is a huge task, as with any new business, and to get to where we are in the first year has been hard work and for this to be recognised by the British Accountancy Awards is fantastic."

Beacon was set up in 2013 by Miss Baines, a qualified chartered accountant with 10 years experience, and has one member staff, Sally Stimson.

The firm helps small businesses with their year-end accounts, tax returns and bookkeeping. It is also XERO certified, an online accounting solution which is becoming very popular in the UK. The winner of the Accountancy Awards will be announced on November 25 at The Brewery, London.