A YOUNG accountant has been promoted after proving her skills at a local firm.

Lisa Fletcher, 26, started at chartered accountants and business advisers Clive Owen LLP immediately after receiving her A-level results in July 2008.

Over the past eight years, she has proven her ability, working with clients in sectors as diverse as food production and mediaeval glass, and has now been promoted to assistant manager of the York office.

In her current role she handles audits for SMEs, charities and academies, as well as preparing accounts for sole traders, partnerships and LLPs. She is also heavily involved in the regional audits and consolidation for a central government body.

l Langleys Solicitors has strengthened its private client team with the appointment of Chelsea Martin.

She joins the York-based law firm as an assistant solicitor. She previously worked at Clarion.

Ms Martin advises on all aspects of private client work, including inheritance tax planning, the preparation of wills, trust documents and lasting powers of attorney. She also has experience of advising on care fee funding and mental capacity issues, including making applications to the Court of Protection.

l A senior quantity surveyor with more than 20 years experience in the construction industry has joined an expanding Harrogate firm.

Mike Smith, a former pre-construction contract manager at York-based Shepherd Construction, is the latest recruit to Pannal Business Park-based Cooper & Hall.

After leaving the construction firm, he spent a number of years working as a freelance quantity surveyor working for a number of companies, including his new employer.

Mr Smith’s appointment takes the Cooper & Hall workforce up to 14.