HELEN Jackson has accountancy in her blood.

The business development partner at independent chartered accountants Jackson Stephen, in Bradshawgate, Leigh, has been cited as one of the top 10 young accountants -- and the only one in the North-west under 35 -- to watch by industry bible Accountancy Age magazine.

She said: "Both my grandfathers, my father and my uncle are chartered accountants and my aunt was a tax inspector, so I think accountancy was in my genes

"I've spent the past three years in the corporate finance department of Deloitte, and the skills that I acquired there play a vital role in the work I do now.

"Our firm prides itself on pro-active, added value advice to clients and this ethos has been transferred to the marketing strategy."

Helen (pictured) said: "Jackson Stephen is a young, dynamic partnership and over the next five years we aim to become the largest independent accountancy firm in the North-west."