Telford finance apprentice ranked among world's top 10 after global exam success

A Telford finance apprentice has been ranked among the world's top-performing accountancy students after achieving a top 10 result in a prestigious international examination.

Daniel Hayward, a third-year finance apprentice at Ricoh UK Products Ltd (RPL), finished joint eighth worldwide in the May 2026 Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Management Case Study examination.

He scored 125 out of 150 marks in the assessment, which is sat by thousands of candidates around the world each year.

Daniel, who joined the company after completing his A-levels, said he was stunned by the result.

"I was quite shocked when I found out. It's something I would never have expected," he said.

"To be amongst the top 10 in an exam sat by thousands of people worldwide is pretty surreal."

The CIMA Management Case Study is considered one of the most demanding stages of the professional qualification. Candidates are required to apply everything they have learned in a realistic business scenario, taking on the role of a finance manager within a fictional organisation during a three-hour examination.

Daniel chose an apprenticeship over university so he could gain workplace experience while studying towards becoming a chartered accountant.

"For me, it made sense to get four years of practical experience working with professionals every day alongside my studies," he said.

"Knowing that I could be a fully qualified chartered accountant by the time I'm 21 or 22, instead of leaving university at a similar age and then having to undertake further qualifications, was a huge benefit."

Since joining Ricoh, Daniel has worked on finance platform implementation, budgeting and major business projects, as well as presenting to senior management and the company's operational board.

He said the support of colleagues, mentors and the firm's learning and development team had been instrumental in helping him succeed.

Learning and Development Officer Claire Shepherd praised Daniel's achievement.

"Dan's achievement is a fantastic example of how a commitment to continuous improvement can lead to exceptional results," she said.

"Through determination, ongoing learning and a willingness to challenge himself, he has achieved recognition on a global stage while continuing to develop as a finance professional."

Daniel has now completed the third stage of the CIMA qualification and will sit four more exams over the next year as he works towards becoming a fully qualified chartered accountant.

He said he hopes to build on his success and even challenge for another top 10 finish in the final case study examination.