The winners of the Accounting Excellence Awards 2024 are...
The winners of the Accounting Excellence Awards 2024 are...
On the biggest night in the accounting calendar, the 2024 Accounting Excellence Awards honoured some of the brightest and pioneering firms in the profession. Here are the evening’s winners…
The red carpet was rolled out in front of London’s iconic Roundhouse last night as some of the most cutting-edge firms and stars of the profession competed for a coveted Accounting Excellence Award.
Hosted by comedian Rob Beckett, this year’s Accounting Excellence Awards handed out gongs to firms from small to large, client service, employers, ESG and more. The evening concluded with the John Stokdyk Outstanding Contribution Award, which this year was presented to Dan Neidle.
Big winners on the night
Bishop Fleming was one of the biggest winners on the night, sweeping up four awards for Large Firm of the Year, Employer of the Year, Client Service (medium and large firms) and the ESG (medium and large firms).
They were not the only firm to take home more than one award. Kreston Reeves received the Progressive Audit Firm of the Year award for the second year in a row and also the International Firm of the Year gong.
Kennedy Accountancy was the winner of the hotly contested national Small Firm of the Year award, having also won the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland Small Firm of the Year award. Kennedy Accountancy competed against the other regional winners: the Small Firm winner for the Midlands, Wales and East of England, Byrd + Link, and London and South of England’s winner Ocelot Accounting.
The other fiercely competitive firm award was the Mid-tier Firm of the Year, which this year was split into two awards to reflect the quality of entries and the differing stages of growth for firms in this category. One award was given for firms up to £3m and another to firms over £3m. Pocknells and UHY Hacker Young (East) won these awards respectively.
In the Sole Practitioner of the Year category Prevail Accountancy succeeded in picking up the award again, having lifted the same trophy last year.
The evening culminated with the John Stokdyk Outstanding Contribution Award, named after the longtime AccountingWEB editor who passed away last summer. The honour this year went to Dan Neidle, the founder of the Tax Policy Associates, who received the recognition for his work highlighting nefarious avoidance schemes and who has worked to educate and improve tax policy.
Trailblazers
AccountingWEB editorial director Joanne Birtwistle kicked off the evening. Addressing the 650-plus attendees, Birtwistle encapsulated the achievement of being an Accounting Excellence Award winner: “You are the trailblazers who are raising the bar for everyone else. Your dedication to client service, innovation, growth and driving positive change within your and your clients’ businesses shows us what this profession can achieve.
“For those shortlisted tonight, this moment is not just a recognition of what you’ve accomplished, but an inspiration for others. You embody what it means to push the profession forward, and it’s that drive and ambition that we want to celebrate – and to elevate.”
Nick Williams, product director at Intuit QuickBooks, the headline sponsor of the 2024 Accounting Excellence Awards, commented: “Last night was a celebration of the incredible achievements, and an acknowledgement of the tireless work done, often behind the scenes, by the accounting profession.
“These individuals and teams are navigating an industry in the midst of rapid transformation. As their roles evolve, so too must the platform and technology that supports them and we’re proud to be part of that journey. Accountants and bookkeepers are truly the backbone of the economy. The heroes behind the heroes.”
The 2024 Accounting Excellence Award winners
From past presidents of accountancy and tax bodies to previous winners and AccountingWEB expert contributors, the finalists were judged by some of the most respected names in the accountancy profession. The judging panel this year included Paul Aplin, Lucy Cohen, Della Hudson, Glenn Collins, Sharon Baker, Alex Bond Burnett, Nick Levine, Kevin Reed, Susan Ball and many more.
Here is a complete list of the winners.
FIRM AWARDS
Small Firm of the Year (London and South of England), sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks
• Leap Accounts and Outsourcing
• Ocelot Accounting – WINNER
• Panthera Accounting
• Urban Ledgers – HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Your Ecommerce Accountant
Judges’ comments: The judges were impressed by Ocelot’s exceptional client support, highly personalised approach to client service and its fantastic suite of services tailored to content creators.
Small Firm of the Year (Midlands, Wales and East of England), sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks
• 1 Accounts Online - HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Byrd + Link – WINNER
• Elevate Accountancy
• Triple Bottom Line Accounting
Judges’ comments: Byrd + Link stood out thanks to its clear strategy, solid marketing plan and strong growth in its audit niche. The judges were impressed with the firm’s revised marketing plan, which built on its already strong referral network and targeted general accountancy firms, resulting in revenues growing by 64%.
Small Firm of the Year (North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland), sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks
• Beach Accountants
• Bee Motion
• Kennedy Accountancy – WINNER
Judges’ comments: Building a practice based around growth, team, client service and community, Kennedy Accountancy is dedicated to ensuring business owners in their local community build prosperous and rewarding businesses. The judges were particularly impressed by the firm’s love of its local community.
Small Firm of the Year (Grand Prix), sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks
• Byrd + Link
• Kennedy Accountancy – WINNER
• Ocelot Accounting
Judges’ comments: All of the regional small firm winners showed a clear commitment to client care, improving efficiencies and the quality of their service and demonstrating real growth over the past 12 months, but Kennedy Accountancy stood out.
Mid-tier Firm of the Year (Up to £3m), sponsored by TaxCalc
• DNA
• Ecommerce Accountants
• Godfrey Wilson
• Hayward Wright
• Pocknells – WINNER
• Scholes Chartered Accountants
Judges’ comments: With a clearly articulated strategy around acquisition, digital improvement and people, Pocknells picked up the trophy in a close category. The judges applauded the firm’s passion for apprenticeships and bringing on the next generation of accountants, while also praising the firm for clearly recognising the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence and data analytics.
Mid-tier Firm of the Year (Above £3m), sponsored by TaxCalc
• Cottons Group – HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Grunberg & Co
• Harold Sharp
• Infinity Partnership
• Thorne Widgery
• UHY Hacker Young (East) – WINNER
Judges’ comments: UHY Hacker Young (East) is a firm that has a very clear idea of who they can help and how to find them. The judges were particularly impressed with their client segmentation and the actions they had taken to make sure they worked with clients with shared values.
Large Firm of the Year, sponsored by Silverfin
• Bishop Fleming – WINNER
• Forrester Boyd Chartered Accountants
• haysmacintyre
• Kreston Reeves
• Wilson Partners
Judges’ comments: The judges were impressed by how Bishop Fleming demonstrated a clear, focused strategy with its five-year plan to double in size and detailed how it is going to resource this. It honed in on the importance of investing in its systems to enable growth and underlined throughout its entry its commitment to responsible business and being a force for good.
New Firm of the Year, sponsored by Xero
• Elevate Accountancy
• Onside Accounting – WINNER
• Primera Accountants
• Prysm Financial
• Sumer
• Thomas & Clark
• VN Accountancy and Bookkeeping
Judges’ comments: The judges were impressed by how Onside Accounting had embraced being a 100% fully remote practice and in doing so, overcoming the perennial recruitment challenges. Onside Accounting has a clear commitment to client and staff care and investing in apprentices. This is a firm that is investing in the future.
International Firm of the Year, sponsored by Capital & Trust
• AVS VAT
• Euro Accounting
• Kreston Reeves – WINNER
• MGI Midgley Snelling
• Soaring Falcon
Judges’ comments: As an active and leading member of an international network, the judges were impressed by Kreston Reeves’ commitment to provide the same high-quality service across the globe. The firm shows how a long-term commitment to an international network can be beneficial to clients, while also highlighting the positive impact it can have on employees’ personal development through staff exchanges.
Employer of the Year (Small Company), sponsored by Mercia
• Ashton McGill
• Ellacott Morris
• Gooding Accounts
• Inca Accountants
• Panthera Accounting – WINNER
• Safe Hands
Judges’ comments: The judges said Panthera has a really human and personalised approach, driven by a visionary leader at the top – when they spot an issue, it’s addressed. The firm’s decision-making is also geared towards ensuring a more engaged culture.
Employer of the Year (Medium and Large Company), sponsored by Mercia
• Bishop Fleming – WINNER
• Carpenter Box
• Kreston Reeves
• LB Group
• PKF Francis Clark
• PKF Smith Cooper
Judges’ comments: Bishop Fleming impressed the judges through their strong strategy of listening to clients, whether that’s through their client listening programme, mystery shopping exercises or customer journey mapping workshops.
Sole Practitioner of the Year, sponsored by Allica Bank
• Adams O’Rourke Accountants – HIGHLY COMMENDED
• IJC Finance
• Wild Bookkeeping
• Prevail Accountancy – WINNER
Judges’ comments: Prevail has a good strategy, which the judges recognised is a difficult thing to do for sole practitioners. It also has solid values and recruits with those in mind, with the firm knowing its purpose and wanting to excel.
Client Service Award (Small Firms), sponsored by Moneypenny
• Beach Accountants
• Gravitate Accounting
• Kennedy Accountancy
• Makesworth Accountants
• Wood & Disney – WINNER
Judges’ comments: Wood & Disney have a clear vision and are highly intentional in their approach. The firm demonstrated a strong commitment to listening to clients and focusing on the impact they deliver. They also showcased a deep understanding of the client experience through a customer impact survey, measuring key metrics such as financial understanding, future confidence and improved cashflow.
Client Service Award (Medium and Large Firms), sponsored by Monneypenny
• Bishop Fleming – WINNER
• Infinity Partnership
• Nordens
• Onside Accounting
• Thorne Widgery
Judges’ comments: The judges were impressed by the firm’s strong strategy of listening to clients, whether that’s through their client listening programme, mystery shopping exercises or customer journey mapping workshops. The judges also praised the firm’s employee surveys to gauge their perception of client service.
Digital Transformation Award, sponsored by Sage
• Chadwick Accountants
• Gravita
• LJM Bookkeeping – HIGHLY COMMENDED
• MacroFin – WINNER
• Prevail Accountancy
• Thorne Widgery
• Venn Accounts
Judges’ comments: The judges felt MicroFin demonstrated a blueprint for the future of the industry, taking disparate processes and systems and putting them into one function to offer businesses a strategic view of their operations.
Client Transformation Award, sponsored by Xledger
• Adams O’Rourke Accountants – WINNER
• Infinity Partnership
• Prevail Accountancy
• Telic Advisory
• The Ethical Bookkeeper
Judges’ comments: Adams O’Rourke Accountants’ entry stood out due to the firm’s impactful interventions. The firm saved jobs and revitalised a failing organisation, transforming it into a thriving business. They improved debtor days and defined key performance indicators while driving the business leaders forward. Although implementing technology was a part of their strategy, their success was rooted in a comprehensive approach that went far beyond tech solutions.
AccountingWEB Pride Award – DEI, sponsored by Bright
• Bee Motion – WINNER
• Heywood-MacDonald Accountancy Services
• Jaccountancy
• Queen Mary University of London – HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Roots to Froots
Judges’ comments: Bee Motion stood out with their remarkable responsiveness to the needs of young people, focusing intently on providing accessible career paths. They have demonstrated a commitment to changing attitudes and fostering an inclusive environment. The judges eagerly anticipate seeing their continued impact.
AccountingWEB Pride Award – ESG (Small Firms), sponsored by Bright
• Beach Accountants
• Makesworth Accountants
• Thrive – WINNER
• Your Local Bookkeeper – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Judges’ comments: Thrive’s commitment to ESG principles shows a clear vision for influencing the wider accounting profession. Thrive has demonstrated a clear and ambitious plan for future development, including publishing a book on net zero for accountants, collaborating on industry events, and accelerating its tree-planting efforts.
AccountingWEB Pride Award – ESG (Medium to Large Firms), sponsored by Bright
• Albert Goodman
• Bishop Fleming – WINNER
• BKL
• Duncan & Toplis
• MHA
Judges’ comments: The judges were impressed by the Bishop Fleming’s exceptional commitment and a well-rounded approach to balancing environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns. In particular, the judges highlighted Bishop Fleming’s use of external benchmarking and alignment with UN sustainability goals, demonstrating a structured and strategic approach to ESG.
SERVICE LINE AWARDS
Bookkeeping Team of the Year, sponsored by IRIS
• Accountability Edinburgh
• Bluebells Bookkeeping – HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Ookkee – WINNER
• Safe Hands
Judges’ comments: The judges were impressed with the unique methodology and mindset within this practice. Ookkee clearly cares deeply about the success of their clients and the passion they have and for their staff too.
Tax Team of the Year, sponsored by Wolters Kluwer
• Axada
• Carpenter Box – WINNER
• Jerroms Miller Specialist Tax
• Milsted Langdon
• The VAT Team – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Judges’ comments: An innovative firm with a clearly defined strategy and goals, the judges were particularly impressed by Carpenter Box’s excellent client testimonials and survey results, which demonstrated a real focus on client care. In particular, their new StarBox initiative for content creators demonstrates how the firm is responding to wider changes in society and the economy to drive its own growth and profitability.
Progressive Payroll Team of the Year, sponsored by Employment Hero
• Duncan & Toplis
• Grenfell James Associates
• MainPay
• Nicholson & Co Accountancy – WINNER
• Payroll Sorted - HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Qtac Payroll
Judges’ comments: With excellent initiatives demonstrated across all areas including technology, people, client service and growth, the judges were hard-pressed to find any areas for this firm to improve on.
Progressive Audit Firm of the Year, sponsored by QX Accounting Services
• Duncan & Toplis
• Harold Sharp
• Kreston Reeves – WINNER
• LB Group
• MGI Midgley Snelling
Judges’ comments: Taking the ethics of this category very seriously, the judges highlighted how Kreston Reeves clearly showed advancement of audit quality and progressive culture. The judges also praised the firm’s dedicated innovation team, which has led to improved audit quality.
In-house Marketing Campaign of the Year, sponsored by PracticeWeb
• Albert Goodman – WINNER
• Bee Motion – HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Cottons Group
• Gravitate Accounting
• TaxAssist Accountants
Judges’ comments: The firm’s excellent “Accountancy that covers everything from A-G-Z” campaign ran across outdoor media, radio social, website and print and resulted in a 67% increase in new client enquiries. The judges were impressed by the measurable outcomes of the campaign and the marketing materials which highlighted the organisation’s valued services and community ethos.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Finance Director of the Year, sponsored by iplicit
• Aikta Varma – HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Becky Glover
• Bradley Channer – WINNER
• Charlotte Crowley
• Ciaran O’Donnell
• Lorna Leonard
Judges’ comments: Our winner proved himself a very deserving winner, demonstrating that he has taken several businesses to successful exits over the years. In his current role, Bradley developed the tech firm’s first financial model, reporting and metrics and identified performance indicators that boosted gross profit margins from 65% to 85% over two years.
Practice Leader of the Year, sponsored by GI Outsourcing
• Ben Allen
• Ben Steele
• Caroline Armstrong
• John Holliday
• Liam Wilson
• Michelle Morris – WINNER
• Simon Cowie
Judges’ comments: Michelle impressed the judges with her strong NPS scores, reflecting excellent client care. She also set clearly defined, realistic goals for the future and showcased innovative, unique branding that made the accounting experience more personal and engaging for clients.
Breakout Star of the Year
• Alisha O’Donovan
• Grace Hardy
• Jade Donno
• Joseph Cox – WINNER
• Shona C Barker
Judges’ comments: The judges felt Joseph clearly demonstrated the positive impact on his clients, his practice, his team and has a clear vision about how this can be translated into support for the wider profession over the next 12 months.
John Stokdyk Outstanding Contribution Award, sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks
• Dan Neidle
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