London, UK — C2W CFO Mark Clayton is one of the cover stars of the latest issue of the Accounting Technician Magazine(AT), as the winner of Excellence Award, the Inaugural AAT Impact Awards. This year’s awards highlighted the contributions of the AAT community and their impact on the real world.
Christina Earls, AAT President, expressed her delight at the achievements of the unsung heroes in the community and congratulated everyone nominated for an award. The winners were announced during the online launch of the 2030 strategy, watched in over 30 countries.
The awards illustrate how AAT members are real-world ready and how the new strategy unveiled will ensure members remain highly relevant well into the future. The dedication and enthusiasm of all who entered are greatly appreciated, and winners such as Mark Clayton have a sense of purpose that will play a big role in accountants’ lives in the future.
Mark Clayton FMAAT is a perfect example of the characteristics AAT is looking to cultivate. He has made a significant impact on his business while being responsible. Mark, who is based in Guangdong, China, joined manufacturing and sourcing company C2W in 2007 when it was in its infancy. Since then, it has grown more than thirty-fold, from a £542,000 business to a £17.5m one.
“I had to build the finance function from scratch,” Mark explains. Establishing that finance function enabled Mark to take a leadership role at the business quickly, leading to career advancement and opportunities outside of the business, including with the British Chamber of Commerce in southern China, where he is vice-chairman.
Mark has also established an NGO that helps children living with autism and underprivileged children in the region. “I’ve always wanted to give back to the community I live in,” Clayton explains. “AAT underpinned the ethical side of it, and that allowed people to trust what we were doing.”
“Get that social purpose. Find out what you want to do to help others, and that will help you to grow yourself too.”
The AAT Impact Awards celebrate the AAT community’s contributions and their real-world impact, and the winners exemplify AAT members’ readiness to make a difference in the world.
