TRAINEE Ross Bickerton scored the joint eighth best score in the whole world in his chartered accountant exams.

Ross, 24, an accounts senior in Taunton with Francis Clark, sat six papers in the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales 2013 Annual International Order of Merit tests in the professional stage of the ACA qualification.

He said: “I’m obviously very surprised and delighted but the most important thing is passing the exams in the first place.”

Francis Clark partner Martin Lock said: “Achieving a top ten placing in the International Order of Merit is an excellent achievement and one that Ross can cherish for the rest of his career.”