Accountancy Award Categories 2026

Eligibility: This award is open to those in an apprentice or trainee position actively studying towards an accounting qualification, such as ATT or AAT.

Judges will require evidence of the following:

• Innovation – examples of new ideas, fresh prospectives and ways to improve in the role
• Above & beyond – evidence of a proactive approach in meeting and exceeding customer or team leader expectations
• Continuous learning – commitment to ongoing professional development and a keen willingness to acquire new skills
• Enthusiasm – commitment to the role and an enthusiastic attitude towards the profession.
• Team work – effective collaboration within the team

Eligibility: This award is open to all individuals working in finance including accountants, finance managers, credit controllers, tax advisers, finance controllers, auditors etc.

Judges will require evidence of the following:

• Impact – Evidence of instances where the nominee has added significant value to the business or clients through their contributions.
• Innovation – examples of the implementation of new initiatives that have positively impacted their own business or the clients
• Above & beyond – exceptional client service, ensuring a high level of satisfaction, and exceeding expectations
• Continuous learning – Commitment to ongoing professional development and keeping abreast of industry changes
• Technical ability – demonstrative skillset and ability in their specific areas of expertise
• Leadership – examples of strong leadership, project management skills and collaborative team work

Eligibility: This award is open to individuals operating in a fractional or interim leadership capacity who have delivered significant organisational impact during their assignment. This may include roles such as Interim Director, Fractional C‑Suite, Interim Project Lead, or specialist transformation appointments.

Judges will require evidence of the following:

• Speed of Impact & Delivery Against the Brief – Evidence of rapid, meaningful impact soon after joining the organisation, including successful delivery of the objectives they were engaged to achieve (e.g. transformation, turnaround, crisis management, or key KPIs).
• Transformational Contribution – Evidence of new strategies, processes, or ways of working introduced by the nominee that delivered lasting, measurable improvements to performance, capability, or culture.
• Leadership, Team & Stakeholder Influence – Examples of how the nominee led and influenced teams and key stakeholders, building trust quickly and gaining alignment at senior or board level despite the temporary nature of the role.
• Commercial & Organisational Value – Clear, quantifiable value delivered during the engagement, such as revenue growth, cost savings, risk reduction, operational improvement, or enhanced customer outcomes.
• Problem-Solving Under Pressure – Evidence of effective decision-making and action in high-pressure or complex situations, delivering stability, clarity, and results during critical periods.

Eligibility: This award is open to all finance teams working in the private sector. Teams must consist of two or more people.

Judges will require evidence of the following:

• Impact – evidence of how achieved results have positively impacted the company and/or clients
• Innovation – examples of the implementation of new initiatives that have positively impacted the business and/or the clients
• Technical ability – demonstrate a strong and varied skillset across the team providing evidence of continued professional development
• Team work – ability to effectively contribute and work together as a team
• Collaboration – demonstrate effectiveness in collaborating seamlessly with other departments for achieving common goals
• Culture – initiatives undertaken for staff development, creating a positive team culture and fostering diversity and inclusivity within the work environment. Provide details on ESG initiatives.

Eligibility: This award is open to corporate finance departments and corporate recovery departments operating within accountancy firms and corporate financial advisers. *

**Due to the popularity of this category nominations will be blind reviewed by the judges prior to the judging day with only the top 6 going through to the interview stage.

Judges will require evidence of the following:

• Innovation – Display of innovative thinking in the initiation and negotiation of the deal
• Impact – Illustration of how the deal has been optimised to provide maximum benefit to the regional economy
• Collaboration – Effective collaboration between stakeholders and advisors to ensure the success of the deal
• Results – Showcasing how the deal contributes to increased financial strength for all involved parties, including advisors, customers, employees, financiers, and owners

Eligibility: This award is open to all those working in the field of tax, including tax advisers, tax teams, accountants specialising in tax etc.

Judges will require evidence of the following:

• Impact – demonstrate how achieved results have benefitted clients and/or your business
• Innovation – examples of the implementation of new initiatives that have positively impacted the clients and/or business.
• Technical ability – demonstrate technical proficiency and provide examples of navigating complex tax issues
• Above & beyond – exceptional client service, ensuring a high level of satisfaction, and exceeding expectations
• Collaboration – demonstrate effectiveness in collaborating seamlessly with peers, other departments or third parties to reach a common goal
• Continued learning – commitment to ongoing professional development and keeping abreast of industry changes

Eligibility: This award is open to Accountancy firms with less than 20 employees or who started trading within the last 5 years (from January 2020 onwards)

Judges will require evidence of the following:

• Impact – evidence of how achieved results have positively impacted your clients, including revenue growth and stability
• Above & Beyond – demonstrate excellence in delivering high-quality client services
• Innovation – Implementation of innovative practices and new technology to enhance service delivery
• Culture – initiatives undertaken for staff development, creating a positive team culture and fostering diversity and inclusivity within the work environment.
• Strategy & leadership – show a clear strategic vision for the firm’s future, aligned with the overall business goals and industry trends
• CSR – Provide details on any pro bono work, involvement in the local community and sustainable working initiatives

Eligibility: This award is open to national Accountancy firms with an office based in the North East. This award will be judged on the basis of the North East office(s) rather than that of the firm as a whole

Judges will require evidence of the following:

• Impact – evidence of how achieved results have positively impacted your clients, including revenue growth and stability
• Above & Beyond – demonstrate excellence in delivering high-quality client services
• Innovation – Implementation of innovative practices and new technology to enhance service delivery
• Culture – initiatives undertaken for staff development, creating a positive team culture and fostering diversity and inclusivity within the work environment.
• Strategy & leadership – show a clear strategic vision for the firm’s future, aligned with the overall business goals and industry trends
• CSR – Provide details on any pro bono work, involvement in the local community and sustainable working initiatives

Eligibility: This Award is for individuals who have shown significant achievement over many years and made an outstanding contribution to the accountancy profession or the company which they are part of. Nb: There are no interviews taking place for this award as the winner is chosen by a committee.

Judges will require evidence of the following: 

• Background and experience in relation to finance
• Stand out achievements and key results over the years
• Impact on the finance community and the region
• Current position, ambitions and focus areas
• What makes them stand out above the rest