SANDRA Silk from Winterslow has been presented with a top award from the International Association of Bookkeepers.

She received the award for top student in manual payroll, having studied the IAB's manual and computerised payroll course by distance learning through Cricklade College in Andover.

She received a distinction and merit in the exams and was presented with a certificate by college principal Dr Tom Johnson and a decanter and glasses by Malcolm Dean, chief executive of the IAB.

"Being presented with an award for achieving the highest mark in the manual paper came as quite a surprise," she said.

"But it reflects the high standards I set for myself and the quality I intend to provide to my clients."

Inspired by her success and drawing on her past experience of office management and bookkeeping, she has now set up SAS Bookkeeping to provide bookkeeping, payroll and administration support to small businesses.

She said: "Although owners of small businesses try to encompass all the skills required in building a successful business, their talent usually lies in a particular area and it is often how to do the bookkeeping or get their administration organised that concerns them.

"SAS Bookkeeping is tailored to fit the client's needs - manual or computerised, on your premises or mine.

"Some businesses may just require an efficient bookkeeping system put in place that they can manage themselves, whereas others would like to hand it all over and know that everything will be ready to pass to their accountant at the year end.

"Some may have been thinking about computerising the accounts, have bought the software but don't know where to start - I can get them on the right track."

Ms Silk, whose two sons also attend Cricklade College, has worked as a farm secretary and medical secretary, and in office and business management in the financial services, manufacturing and dairy industries.