The Yorkshire Accountancy Awards 2026 brought a touch of glitz and glamour to New Dock Hall, Leeds, last night!
Taking place on 27 February 2026, this wonderful celebration brought together hundreds of professionals from across the region’s accountancy and bookkeeping services, all to recognise and celebrate the very best of the best.
Chair of the independent judging panel, Graham Batty, President of the AAT, kicked off the evening with his speech, commenting, “Tonight is about celebrating the achievements of you, the accountants of Yorkshire. Thank you to all those shortlisted, you certainly did not give the judges an easy time. There were some outstanding entries and a lot of debate to arrive at the final decisions.”
Notable winners include Azets and Parsons Chartered Accountants, who were of those that took home multiple awards, and Tom Reid from Burberry, who took home the Yorkshire Accountant of the Year award.
The Yorkshire Accountancy Awards is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 ceremony:
Audit Service Award
Winner: Forvis Mazars LLP
“The judges highlighted the impressive level of national recognition achieved, supported by detailed and meaningful innovation within the audit service. Exceptional client retention demonstrated the strength and consistency of delivery, while a very strong local team continues to make a significant national impact, making this entry a standout and a highly deserving winner.”
Tax Service Award
Winner: Bevan VAT Consultancy Limited
“The judges were impressed by a truly differentiative tax service, brought to life through a creative, bold and compelling story. A personable and human approach stood out, clearly demonstrating how the service supports people as well as businesses, resulting in an entry that felt authentic, impactful and distinctly different from the rest.”
Team of the Year
Winner: Azets – The Accountants and Business Advisory Services Team
“Strong collaboration and consistency were at the heart of this winning entry, with the team demonstrating a reliable and effective approach to delivery across their work. Positive testimonials reinforced the strength of the team dynamic, while involvement in national programmes highlighted a commitment to contributing beyond the organisation itself, making this a well-deserved win.”
Support Staff of the Year
Winner: Alex Rose – Parsons Chartered Accountants
“The judges recognised a winner that plays an essential role in the success of the organisation, consistently adding value across a wide range of critical functions. A clear commitment to excellence, quality and innovation was evident in everything they do, with their contribution extending beyond day-to-day operations to support the wider business and profession. This well-rounded and highly effective approach resulted in a submission that met the criteria exceptionally well and truly stood out.”
Highly Commended: Forrester Boyd – Marketing Team
Forensic Accounting Award
Winner: BTG – Forensic & Risk Advisory Team
“Ambition and growth were clear themes throughout this entry, with the business demonstrating a strong upward trajectory alongside a well-rounded and criteria-led submission. High-profile public enquiries showcased the scale and impact of the work undertaken, with the judges also noting the impressive quality and significance of the cases delivered, marking this as a standout forensic accountancy entry.”
Best ESG Campaign
Winner: BDO
“Clear governance and well-established programmes formed the foundation of this winning ESG campaign, with tangible results already being delivered. Extensive third-party recognition and clearly defined, measurable targets demonstrated both credibility and impact, marking this campaign as a strong and convincing example of ESG best practice.”
Accounting Tech Initiative
Winner: Burberry Shared Services
“Innovation sat at the core of this entry, with the development of a bespoke in-house solution designed to address a high-risk area of the business. The judges were impressed by how the technology not only mitigated risk but also evolved to deliver additional capabilities, enabling the team to go above and beyond in how the initiative is used.”
Corporate Finance Service Award
Sponsored by Ison Harrison
Winner: Azets, Yorkshire Corporate Finance Team
“The judges noted that this was a particularly strong category, with many high-quality entries, but this winner stood out through the clear emphasis placed on successful deals and tangible client outcomes. Exceptional and highly credible client testimonials reinforced the impact of the work delivered, making this entry both compelling and admirable in the eyes of the judging panel.”
Highly Commended: Castle Square Corporate Finance Limited
In-House Finance Team of the Year
Winner: Burberry Finance Shared Services Team
“The judges recognised an in-house finance team that plays a vital role in driving business success, adding real value through high-quality, reliable and commercially focused work. A clear commitment to excellence, innovation and continuous improvement was evident, with the team consistently raising standards across essential finance functions. Their contribution extends beyond the organisation itself, earning recognition from external partners and demonstrating a positive impact on the wider business and accountancy community.”
Best Employer of the Year
Winner: Forrester Boyd
“The judges were struck by how agile and responsive this organisation is in listening to its people, using clear feedback from employee survey results to shape a genuinely collaborative culture. A strong commitment to flexible working and meaningful mental health support stood out, alongside clear action taken to give back to the wider community. Together, these elements demonstrated an employer that truly puts its people first and sets an exceptional standard for workplace culture.”
Independent Firm of the Year
Winner: Hunter Gee Holroyd
“The judges were impressed by the significant growth achieved within specialised service areas, alongside an admirable commitment to reinvesting that success back into the business. Strong investment across departments and in staff training demonstrated not just growth, but a clear focus on long-term sustainability and quality, further reinforced by excellent client testimonial results and consistently positive feedback.”
Highly Commended: Gravitate Accounting
Niche Firm of the Year
Winner: Deeks VAT Consultancy Ltd
“The judges were impressed by the exceptional level of expertise demonstrated within a clearly defined niche, supported by strong national recognition. Powerful case studies showcased the impact and value of the work delivered, resulting in an outstanding submission that clearly set this firm apart from the competition.”
Mid-Tier Firm of the Year
Winner: Clive Owen LLP
Judges’ comments: “The judges recognised a mid-tier firm with a clear sense of direction, demonstrating well-defined aims that have been effectively delivered through strong leadership and execution. A broad and capable range of services is delivering tangible value for clients, supported by a differentiated approach that clearly sets the firm apart from competitors. Meaningful engagement with the Yorkshire region and recognition from external parties further reinforced this entry as a standout in its category.”
Highly Commended: BHP
Large Firm of the Year
Sponsored by AuditBot
Winner: AAB
“The judges were impressed by the depth and quality of this submission, which clearly demonstrated an incredible regional presence and sustained regional growth. Strong commitment to charity and local outreach further strengthened the entry, alongside a well-considered approach supported by compelling testimonials. Together, these elements showcased a large firm making a meaningful impact both commercially and within its wider community.”
Brand of the Year
Winner: Oscar Ip & Co. Chartered Accountants
“The judges were impressed by the innovative use of bilingual media, alongside a strong and creative mix of marketing channels tailored to a niche area. A clear, forward-thinking approach to brand development set this entry apart, demonstrating originality, reach and a confident understanding of its audience.”
Consultancy/Advisory Service Award
Winner: Cortus Advisory Group Limited
“The judges recognised a consultancy and advisory service that combines strong technical expertise with a clear focus on meeting client needs in a practical and impactful way. An innovative approach to service delivery stood out, offering tailored solutions that go beyond standard advice and deliver measurable value. What set this entry apart was the consistency of quality, depth of insight and recognition within the wider profession, marking it as an outstanding advisory service.”
Trainee of the Year
Sponsored by First Intuition
Winner: Adam Wyatt from Forvis Mazars LLP
“In a category filled with exceptional entries, this individual truly rose to the top. National exam successes, the ability to step confidently into senior responsibilities and strong client exposure all stood out, resulting in an outstanding performance across the entire criteria and marking this trainee as a deserving winner.”
Rising Star of the Year
Winner: Daniel Andreca from Parsons Chartered Accountants
“The judges described this individual as a complete standout, delivering huge, measurable results underpinned by exceptional technical excellence. Beyond their role, the extent of their contribution to graduates, apprenticeships and wider community support was particularly impressive, marking them out as an outstanding rising star within the profession.”
Managing Partner of the Year
Winner: Oscar Ip from Oscar Ip & Co. Chartered Accountants
“Leadership and direction were at the heart of this outstanding entry, with the managing partner demonstrating clear vision, influence and accountability. Significant contributions to organisational growth were evident, alongside a strong dedication to clients and a genuine commitment to staff development and wellbeing. Their impact extends beyond the firm itself, through meaningful contribution to the wider accountancy profession and business community, marking this as a truly exceptional managing partner.”
Highly Commended: Daniel McAllister from Simpson Wood
Partner of the Year
Winner: Phillipa Symington from Clive Owen LLP
“The judges were impressed by a strong and well-evidenced entry, supported by clear examples and compelling statistics. Outstanding client and staff testimonials reinforced the impact of this individual’s leadership and influence, resulting in an exceptional submission that stood out in a highly competitive category.”
Private Client
Winner: Forvis Mazars LLP
“Handling complex and high-value cases at a national level, this entry demonstrated clear leadership within private client services. Strong rankings and recognition, supported by compelling testimonials, reinforced the quality of work delivered, while the submission also stood out for recognising the individuals within the team who played a key role in that success.”
Yorkshire Accountant of the Year
Winner: Tom Reid from Burberry
“Over the past 12 months, this accountant has delivered an exceptional all-round performance, combining strong fee-earning results with wider contributions to marketing and business development. High levels of technical expertise and professionalism were evident throughout, alongside a consistent ability to go above and beyond for clients. Their influence extends into the wider profession and business community, supported by a reputation built on trust, quality and sustained excellence, making this a truly outstanding entry.”