The awards
Celebrate your achievements
The Accounting Excellence Awards span a variety of categories that recognise the achievements of accounting firms, individuals, teams, and projects from across the UK accounting profession. All categories are judged by an outstanding panel of experts and senior professionals representing diverse specialisms from within and beyond the accounting community.
Categories
Firm Awards
ESG Excellence
Service Line Awards
Marketing Campaign of the Year
Finance Team of the Year
Individual Awards
Small Firm of the Year
Who can enter:
This category is for a single partner/principal and small firms across the UK with fee income of up to £2m.
What are we looking for:
Entries that demonstrate the strength and quality of your firm and client vision. Show us the defining qualities that help you stand out in a crowded market.
Include tangible evidence to support your claims, for example measures of success that are in addition to the required performance measures set out elsewhere in this form – around client/staff retention or profitability, for example, and where possible include testimonials that illustrate the impact of your work on clients.
Mid-Tier Firm of the Year
Who can enter:
This category is for mid-tier firms with fee income of between £2m-£10m, typically with multiple teams and locations.
What are we looking for:
Entries that demonstrate the strength and quality of your specialist strategy. Show us the defining qualities that help your team stand out in a highly competitive market.
Include tangible evidence to support your claims, for example measures of success that are in addition to the required performance measures set out elsewhere in this form – around client/staff retention or profitability for example, and where possible, include testimonials that illustrate the impact of your work on clients.
Large Firm of the Year
Who can enter:
This category is for large firms with fee income of £10m+, typically with a broad range of service lines and locations across multiple regions.
What are we looking for:
Entries that demonstrate the strength and quality of your firm and client vision and the defining qualities that help you stand out in a highly competitive market.
Include tangible evidence to support your claims, for example measures of success that are in addition to the required performance measures set out elsewhere in this form – around client/staff retention or profitability, for example, and where possible include testimonials that illustrate the impact of your work on clients.
New Firm of the Year
Who can enter:
This category is for firms that have demonstrated success over a
trading period of one to three years.
What are we looking for:
Entries that demonstrate they are targeting a gap in the marketplace with a unique vision and a sustainable business model.
Include tangible evidence to support your claims, for example measures of success that are in addition to the required performance measures set out elsewhere in this form – around client/staff retention or profitability, for example, and where possible include testimonials that illustrate the impact of your work on clients.
International Firm of the Year
Who can enter:
This category is for firms that are helping their clients do better business overseas.
What are we looking for:
Judges will be looking for initiatives that have helped your clients grow overseas and tangible examples of how you have leveraged your international knowledge and network to the benefit of your client base. Your case will be strengthened by testimonials illustrating your impact on clients.
Employer of the Year
Who can enter:
This category is open to bookkeeping/accounting firms and finance teams in industry who are fostering talent and supporting career progression.
What are we looking for:
Your people are your greatest asset but competition for the best talent seems to intensify year on year.
Tell us what you do to motivate your team to deliver exceptional service and how you equip them for the job. Judges will also want to know what strategies you use to ensure you retain your staff.
Share the details of your organisation’s training and development strategy and how that benefits your team, the individuals within it, the firm or business as a whole and your clients.
Judges will take the size of the firm entering into account as part of their judging process.
Employer of the Year Award | Mid-tier to Large Firm
Who can enter:
This category is open to bookkeeping/accounting firms and finance teams in industry, with a turnover of £2m+ who are fostering talent and supporting career progression.
What are we looking for:
Your people are your greatest asset but competition for the best talent seems to intensify year on year.
Tell us what you do to motivate your team to deliver exceptional service and how you equip them for the job. Judges will also want to know what strategies you use to ensure you retain your staff.
Share the details of your organisation’s training and development strategy and how that benefits your team, the individuals within it, the firm or business as a whole and your clients.
Over and above the data already requested, please share quantifiable measures specific to this category which demonstrate the impact learning and development activities have had within your organisation.
Client Service Award | Small Firm
Who can enter:
This category is for accounting and bookkeeping firms that put client service at the heart of their business.
What are we looking for:
The Client Service Award is one of the most competitive entries in these awards and rightly so. Client service is the foundation on which Accounting Excellence is built; all the client success stories and practice achievements flow from getting the service proposition and delivery right. You don’t have to have complicated systems in place to achieve that goal, but you do need to demonstrate observable strategies that enable your team to deliver exemplary client service.
Client Service Award
Who can enter:
This category is for accounting and bookkeeping firms that put client service at the heart of their business.
What are we looking for:
The Client Service Award is one of the most competitive entries in these awards and rightly so. Client service is the foundation on which Accounting Excellence is built; all the client success stories and practice achievements flow from getting the service proposition and delivery right. You don’t have to have complicated systems in place to achieve that goal, but you do need to demonstrate observable strategies that enable your team to deliver exemplary client service.
Judges will take the size of the firm entering into account as part of their judging process.
ESG
Who can enter:
This category is open to accounting/bookkeeping firms and in-house finance departments that can demonstrate that can demonstrate a successful internal ESG strategy.
What are we looking for:
Our judges are looking for clear, tangible evidence of how your firm is making a real impact in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. It’s not just about having good intentions—it’s about demonstrating measurable actions and results.
If you highlight a particular ESG strategy or initiative, be sure to back it up with specific examples, data, or outcomes. We want to see firms that go beyond standard business practices to embed sustainability, social responsibility, and strong governance into their operations—and, crucially, make a tangible difference to clients, employees, and the wider community.
Make it easy for judges to see the impact of your ESG efforts by providing clear evidence of change. Show us how your approach is driving meaningful progress and setting a benchmark for responsible business in the accounting profession.
Judges will take the size of the firm entering into account as part of their judging process.
ESG | Mid-Tier to Large Firm
Who can enter:
This category is open to accounting/bookkeeping firms and in-house finance departments with a turnover of £2m+ that can demonstrate a successful internal ESG strategy.
What are we looking for:
Our judges are looking for clear, tangible evidence of how your firm is making a real impact in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. It’s not just about having good intentions—it’s about demonstrating measurable actions and results.
If you highlight a particular ESG strategy or initiative, be sure to back it up with specific examples, data, or outcomes. We want to see firms that go beyond standard business practices to embed sustainability, social responsibility, and strong governance into their operations—and, crucially, make a tangible difference to clients, employees, and the wider community.
Make it easy for judges to see the impact of your ESG efforts by providing clear evidence of change. Show us how your approach is driving meaningful progress and setting a benchmark for responsible business in the accounting profession.
Digital Transformation Award
Who can enter:
This category focuses on the business improvements an accounting firm has brought to its clients thanks to the technology solutions it has introduced them to.
What are we looking for:
This award gives the opportunity to highlight one particular client’s journey from tech sceptic to convert, and to demonstrate how your introduction of certain software and technologies has had a transformative effect on their business, helped build client loyalty, or brought other specific business benefits to your firm.
This isn’t just about moving to a cloud accounting tool, hooking up bank feeds and then moving on – it’s about highlighting the impacts of digital transformation: how much time it has saved, how improved reporting has transformed the fortunes of a business, and a client’s attitude has changed as a result.
This category requires a client case study submission – it can be anonymised if required (although as much information about the client’s circumstances and quantifiable information about the impact the introduction of a particular technology or software had on the client should be retained).
Judges will be looking for a specific business case study that really tells the story of how your introduction of a new tech or software process to the client positively impacted your relationship with the client.
Tell the story of the client’s tech transformation and, ideally, include any client testimonials.
How have you helped the business, how has the relationship evolved, and what are the issues you helped them to solve? Tell us about the success that your client is enjoying today.
We really want to make these success stories come alive, so be as specific as you can. Include any relevant client testimonies.
We want a demonstration of the broad benefits enjoyed by your client base but strongly advise they provide a case study to bring it to life. The questions give some pointers as to what you should include.
Deal of the Year
Judges will assess entries based on strategic impact, scale, and complexity. They will consider how the acquisition or merger aligns with the firm’s long-term strategy and drives growth, market position, and competitive advantage. This includes evaluating the size of the deal – encompassing pre- and post-transaction revenue and employee numbers – and the complexity of the transaction itself, as well as how these elements contributed to the firm’s transformation.
They will also review the challenges overcome during the process, such as integration issues, technology compatibility, or people management, paying particular attention to resilience and adaptability. Financial impact forms another key criterion, focusing on quantifiable outcomes like revenue growth, profitability, market share, or other measurable indicators of success. The positive effect on clients is equally important, including how the deal has enhanced or expanded service offerings, and how client relationships, satisfaction, and retention have been strengthened.
Finally, judges will take into account the deal’s influence on people – examining its effect on company culture, employee satisfaction and retention, and the integration of teams or technological systems. Ultimately, each entry will be measured on how the deal has transformed the business, with an emphasis on tangible results and a clear alignment with long-term strategic objectives within the accounting and bookkeeping sector.
Bookkeeping Team of the Year
Who can enter:
This category celebrates the essential work of bookkeeping teams who help keep the wheels of the accounting profession turning.
What are we looking for:
Judges will be looking for teams that do more than just keep the books and can demonstrate how their service contributes to the wider success of client businesses.
Include tangible evidence to support your claims, for example measurements or testimonials that illustrate the impact of your work on clients, plus quantifiable performance measures including revenue growth and profitability, client/staff retention and satisfaction.
Tax Team of the Year
Who can enter:
For teams that have demonstrated exceptional tax work and have added value to their clients.
What are we looking for:
Judges will be looking for teams that have demonstrated exceptional tax work and have added value to their clients.
Include tangible evidence to support your claims, for example measurements or testimonials that illustrate the impact of your work on clients. All entries must adhere to the highest professional standards in their tax work.
Payroll Team of the Year
Who can enter:
Recognising excellence in payroll and open to any specialist payroll firms, payroll teams or in-house payroll departments in business.
What are we looking for:
Judges will be looking for teams that can demonstrate how their service contributes to the wider success of client businesses.
Include tangible evidence to support your claims, for example measurements or testimonials that illustrate the impact of your work on clients.
Audit Firm of the Year
Who can enter:
For specialist audit firms, audit teams or in-house audit departments that are driving progressive and positive team culture and innovation in audit quality and client service.
What are we looking for:
At time of significant change and challenge for the audit profession, this award highlights how progressive firms are responding to embrace the new audit quality and regulations to ensure they are well placed to consistently deliver high quality audits which serve the public and other key stakeholder interest.
Hallmarks of a progressive audit firm might include: culture, tone from the top, leadership and governance, linking rewards to quality, innovation, working practices more generally, IT, methodology, delivery, thought leadership – internal and external, a demonstrable commitment to audit quality and staff development & engagement.
Marketing Campaign of the Year
Who can enter:Â
This category is open to any in-house marketing teams or individuals. This award celebrates excellent marketing campaigns run by marketing individuals or teams within accounting and bookkeeping practices.
What we are looking for:
Entries that demonstrate a clear and impactful strategy driving measurable results in growth and profitability will be prioritised.
Finance Team of the Year
Who can enter:Â
This award recognises outstanding in-house finance teams whose success is driven by strong, visionary leadership
What we are looking for:
Judges will assess how the CFO/FD’s strategy, direction and leadership have enabled their team to deliver exceptional results aligned with the business’s overall goals.
Entries should demonstrate leadership, innovation, and strategic impact; the collective achievements of the finance team under the FD/CFO’s leadership; and how finance initiatives have influenced broader business performance, growth, and profitability. Make sure you include examples of innovation, collaboration, and proactive problem-solving across the team.
While leadership of the finance team is a core focus, judges are equally looking for evidence of a strong, dynamic team delivering tangible impact together.
Finance Director of the Year
Who can enter:
This category recognises the stand-out individual contribution of an in-house finance leader.
What are we looking for:
Tell us about the finance leader’s impact on the growth and stability of their business. What innovations have they introduced and what impact have they have had on business strategy, decision making and the bottom line.
The judges are looking for an CFO, FD or finance leader who not only has expertise in their field, but shows a genuinely innovative approach to the wider challenges facing their business.
Practice Leader of the Year
Who can enter:
This category recognises the stand-out individual contribution of a service line partner, managing partner or practice leader within an accountancy firm.
What are we looking for:
Tell us how the individual has made a visible impact or has gone the extra mile for their clients, practice, team, or their own personal development.
To support the application, the judges are looking for tangible evidence of the nominee’s excellence in client service, impact to the firm or organisation and examples of innovation or initiative.
You can nominate yourself or someone within your practice for this category.
Outstanding Contribution Award
What are we looking for:
The winner of this prestigious award is selected by the AccountingWEB editorial team.
No entries can be submitted for this award.
John Stokdyk Outstanding Achievement Award
The winner of this prestigious award is hand-picked by our AccountingWEB editors only.
No entries can be submitted for this award.
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AWARDS NIGHT 2025
30th September 2025, The Roundhouse London
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