Awarded to the firm with turnover greater than £25m as reported in the last financial year that demonstrates how the firm has added significant value to its clients and across all service areas. The winning firm will show how the services it has provided have been fundamental in enabling their clients to achieve their specific business goals, increase revenues and satisfy and delight their customers

* It is highly recommended for a firm who is currently ranked in the top 25 of the Accountancy Age Top 50+50 Survey to enter this award.

Awarded to the firm with turnover between £10m and £25m as reported in the last financial year that demonstrates how the firm has added significant value to its clients and across all service areas. The winning firm will show how the services it has provided have been fundamental in enabling their clients to achieve their specific business goals, increase revenues and satisfy and delight their customers

* It is highly recommended for a firm who is currently ranked between 25^th and 60^th of the Accountancy Age Top 50+50 Survey to enter this award.

Awarded to the firm with turnover between £3m and £10m as reported in the last financial year that demonstrates how the firm has added significant value to its clients and across all service areas. The winning firm will show how the services it has provided have been fundamental in enabling their clients to achieve their specific business goals, increase revenues and satisfy and delight their customers.

* It is highly recommended for a firm who is currently ranked between 61st and 100^th of the Accountancy Age Top 50+50 Survey to enter this award.

Awarded to the highest-ranking firm from the Accountancy Age Client Satisfaction Survey, in partnership with Financial Director Magazine. Firms entered into the survey are those with a turnover greater than £300m and a global network of offices.

This programme is dedicated to finding and recognising the best employers in the accounting profession. Awarded to the organisations that have what it takes to be honoured on the “Accountancy Age – Best Employer” list. This programme takes companies through a process during which direct feedback from employees is used and collected through an academically designed questions, gaining feedback from across the organisation.

Awarded to the firm in Greater London with turnover up to £3m (reported in the last financial year) that demonstrates how the firm has added significant value to its clients and across all service areas. The winning firm will show how the services it has provided have been fundamental in enabling their clients to achieve their specific business goals, increase revenues and satisfy and delight their customers

Covers: Postcodes starting with E, EC, N, NW, SE, SW, W, WC

Awarded to the firm in Scotland, Northern Ireland & North, England with turnover up to £3m (reported in the last financial year) that demonstrates how the firm has added significant value to its clients and across all service areas. The winning firm will show how the services it has provided have been fundamental in enabling their clients to achieve their specific business goals, increase revenues and satisfy and delight their customers

Covers: Northern Ireland; Scotland; North, England: Cleveland; County Durham; Northumberland; Tyne & Wear; Yorkshire; Cheshire; Cumbria; Greater Manchester; Lancashire; and Merseyside.

Awarded to the firm in South-East, England with turnover up to £3m (reported in the last financial year) that demonstrates how the firm has added significant value to its clients and across all service areas. The winning firm will show how the services it has provided have been fundamental in enabling their clients to achieve their specific business goals, increase revenues and satisfy and delight their customers

Covers: Buckinghamshire; East Sussex: Hampshire; Isle of Wight; Kent; Middlesex; Surrey; West Sussex; Berkshire and Hertfordshire.

Awarded to the firm in South, England with turnover up to £3m (reported in the last financial year) that demonstrates how the firm has added significant value to its clients and across all service areas. The winning firm will show how the services it has provided have been fundamental in enabling their clients to achieve their specific business goals, increase revenues and satisfy and delight their customers

Covers: Gloucestershire; Bristol; Cornwall; Devon; Dorset; Oxfordshire; Somerset; Wiltshire, Isles of Scilly

Awarded to the firm in Wales & Midlands, England with turnover up to £3m (reported in the last financial year) that demonstrates how the firm has added significant value to its clients and across all service areas. The winning firm will show how the services it has provided have been fundamental in enabling their clients to achieve their specific business goals, increase revenues and satisfy and delight their customers

Covers: Wales and Midlands: Derbyshire; Herefordshire; Leicestershire; Lincolnshire; Northamptonshire; Nottinghamshire; Rutland; Shropshire; Staffordshire; Warwickshire; West Midlands; and Worcestershire

Awarded to the firm in East, England with turnover up to £3m (reported in the last financial year) that demonstrates how the firm has added significant value to its clients and across all service areas. The winning firm will show how the services it has provided have been fundamental in enabling their clients to achieve their specific business goals, increase revenues and satisfy and delight their customers

Covers: Bedfordshire; Cambridgeshire; Norfolk; Essex and Suffolk

This award seeks to recognise a small practice taking the most unique, different, and innovative approach to either business structure/strategy, or its approach to client service provision. Use of innovative techniques, resources, or technologies to acquire and retain clients and/or develop professionalism within the firm. Entry is open to all small practices and awarded to the firm with a turnover below £3m as reported in the last financial year.

Our judges will be looking for:

• Clear explanation of the NEW approach and change in methodology and strategy
• Strong links between the innovative approach and the strategic goal of the business or its clients
• Evidence of the involvement of its people in implementing and driving change

Clear and measurable return on investment – examples of how the practice’s new approach has had a positive impact on clients, staff, and/or the Practice

This award seeks to recognise a mid-tier Firm taking the most unique, different, and innovative approach to either business structure/strategy, or its approach to client service provision. Use of innovative techniques, resources, or technologies to acquire and retain clients and/or develop professionalism within the firm. Entry is open to all mid-tier firms and awarded to the firm with a turnover between £3m and £25m as reported in the last financial year.

Our judges will be looking for:

• Clear explanation of the NEW approach and change in methodology and strategy
• Strong links between the innovative approach and the strategic goal of the business or its clients
• Evidence of the involvement of its people in implementing and driving change

Clear and measurable return on investment – examples of how the practice’s new approach has had a positive impact on clients, staff, and/or the Practice

This award seeks to recognise a large firm taking the most unique, different and innovative approach to either business structure/strategy, or its approach to client service provision. Use of innovative techniques, resources, or technologies to acquire and retain clients and/or develop professionalism within the firm. Entry is open to all large firms and awarded to the firm with a turnover greater than £25m as reported in the last financial year.

Our judges will be looking for:

• Clear explanation of the NEW approach and change in methodology and strategy
• Strong links between the innovative approach and the strategic goal of the business or its clients
• Evidence of the involvement of its people in implementing and driving change

Clear and measurable return on investment – examples of how the practice’s new approach has had a positive impact on clients, staff, and/or the Practice

This award seeks to recognise an in-house Finance Team taking the most unique, different, and innovative approach to either organisational structure/strategy to improve operational effectiveness and business performance. This should focus on a period of transformation and change recognising a team’s ability to plan, implement and manage a business transformation project. Entry is open to all Corporate Finance Teams.

Our judges will be looking for:

• Clear explanation of the new approach and how it enhances operational effectiveness and business performance
• Strong links between the innovative approach and the strategic goals of the business
• Evidence of the change in methodology and the involvement of its people in implementing and driving change
• Clear and measurable return on investment – examples of how the in-house Finance Team’s new approach has had a positive impact on employees, operational effectiveness, and business performance

This award recognises a firm or organisation’s excellence in developing a business-led training scheme/programme - including apprenticeships, recruitment programmes and school leaver qualification-based schemes. The winner will demonstrate the use of 21st century learning options and innovative ways to attract, retain and develop younger generations to its profession while delivering real bottom line results.

Our judges will be looking for:

• Attractiveness of the scheme/programme and innovative methods and tools used to attract talent
• Opportunity to diversify skill sets and allow students to rotate around teams or projects
• Clear links between the training scheme/programme and the strategic goals of the business
• Evidence of strong retention rates at the end of the program/qualification
• A clear and measurable return on investment

Entry is open to both practice and corporate organisations from any industry and commerce.

This award recognises excellence in an advisory team who have provided outstanding value and service to their clients. This may include exemplary approaches to knowledge management, development of new propositions, continuous improvement in operational efficiencies or innovations in the creation of value for clients. Entry is open to all Practices. Our judges will be looking for:

• A clear understanding of the client’s strategy, needs and aspirations
• Evidence of the project team’s pivotal role in embedding and managing the initiative that has transformed the clients’ business
• Evidence of the team partnering with the business and playing an integral part in the process from start to finish
• Demonstration of delivering a customer-centred and unique service, setting the client apart from competitors
• Quantifiable performance improvements and sustainable growth for the client.
• Evidence of how these changes are going to positively impact the future of the organisation, focussing of client’s LT plans for success

This award recognises exemplar tax work within firms.  This award seeks to distinguish the tax advice that has delivered greatest measurable benefit to the client, without compromising professional standards.

Entries must demonstrate how they consistently deliver a service beyond business as usual, best practice, added value to the client and deliver leading edge ideas.

The winning team will have a strong sense of collaboration and partnering with the client, in addition to forward thinking generating improvements and new innovations.

This award recognises exemplar audit work within firms.  This award seeks to distinguish the audit advice that has delivered the greatest measurable benefit to the client, in terms of ensuring that accounts are prepared to the highest professional standards. This includes an independent and objective stance that helps provide a high level of assurance to any external users of the accounts.

Entries must demonstrate how they consistently deliver a service beyond business as usual, implement best practice, add value to the client and deliver leading edge ideas.

The winning team will have a strong sense of collaboration and partnering with the client, in addition to forward thinking generating improvements and new innovations.

This award recognises an exemplar in-house Finance Team that delivers a service beyond business as usual and drives business strategy, growth, and efficiency.

Entries must demonstrate how they consistently deliver best practice, innovation, added value to the business and deliver leading edge ideas that are positively impacting the overall business success.

The winning team will be collaborative and partner with the wider business in order to achieve organisational goals. It must also be forward thinking, generating improvements and new innovations within finance and the wider business. Entry is open to all in-house Corporate Finance Teams.

This award is designed to reward outstanding talent among part qualified and newly qualified accountants/finance professionals of no more than three years' experience post qualification. The award is open to individuals meeting the criteria and currently employed in an accountancy practice or corporate finance team. Entrants will need to show that they have not only excelled in their exams, but that they have gone above and beyond in their attitude to development. This might include assuming extra responsibilities, taking on and completing special projects, or assuming a role much earlier than would otherwise be expected.

The CFO/Finance Director of the Year Award recognises excellence in financial management and is open to Finance Directors and CFOS from any industry.

The winner will be an industry leader who has achieved notable career success and demonstrated the highest level of innovation, business strategy and quality of service.

As a role model the candidate will possess integrity and strong leadership within the profession.

The Partner of the Year Award recognises excellence in a Partner who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, influence and credibility. The award is open to Partners who demonstrate that they have acted above and beyond their role in helping develop either their clients or the practice.

The winner will be an industry leader who has shown responsibility in their chosen field and demonstrated the highest level of innovation, business strategy and quality of service.

As a role model the candidate will possess integrity and strong leadership within the profession.

Shortlisted by the Accountancy Age audience, the winner will be chosen by our judging panel and is a figure who they believe has had most impact on the accountancy and finance profession over the last 12 months. Usually - though not necessarily - an accountant, the winner is likely to have had an impact on the working lives of most accountants over the course of the year. The winner will have shown evidence of leadership, determination, and clarity of thought. This award is not open to entry.