Gisborne tax expert Ashley Nuttall has been awarded a prestigious accounting award in recognition of his service to the profession and local community.

He was among 222 chartered accountants from around the world to be acknowledged recently with a Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) Fellowship.

Nuttall is a tax consultant at accounting firm BDO Gisborne and is highly respected in the business community for his commercial and tax knowledge. He is also treasurer of Gisborne Rotary and a former secretary of the CA ANZ East Coast local committee representing the region's chartered accountants.

“CA ANZ Fellowships recognise outstanding achievement and contribution in the accounting profession,” said Peter Vial, New Zealand head for CA ANZ.

“This year's ‘fellows' demonstrate the continued difference chartered accountants make in both their professional roles as well as in their local communities.”

Mr Nuttall received his fellowship at a ceremony at the Lawson Field Theatre on February 25.

At the same event nine Gisborne accountants were welcomed into the College of Chartered Accountants and three more into the College of Accounting Technicians, in front of a crowd of about 60 people.

The event was attended by new CA ANZ president Nives Botica-Redmayne who presented the certificates. Each new member had the opportunity to speak about their journey to membership.