Nominations are now open for 2013
Categories
There are 12 categories for nomination:
Criteria for each award can be seen by clicking on the relevant titles below.
Finance Director of the Year
This award is open to registered directors of all organisations who have dedicated overall responsibility for finance.
Evidence of the following should be shown in entries:
- Increased/sustained financial achievement for the company
- Heightened quality of service since being in position
- Enterprise and added value
- Dedication
- Innovation and initiative
- Strong leadership qualities
- Approachability
- Integrity
- Commitment
- Enthusiasm
- Team working and flexible working skills
Accountant of the Year
This award is open to all professionally qualified accountants from all sectors with more than 5 years post qualification experience.
Evidence of the following should be shown in entries:
- Increased/sustained financial achievement for the company
- Heightened quality of service since being in position
- Enterprise and added value
- Dedication
- Innovation and initiative
- Strong leadership qualities
- Approachability
- Integrity
- Commitment
- Enthusiasm
- Team working and flexible working skills
New Accountant of the Year
This award is open to accountants of up to 5 years post qualification experience including students of professional qualifications with relevant work experience.
Evidence of the following should be shown in entries:
- Increased/sustained financial achievement for the company
- Heightened quality of service since being in position
- Enterprise and added value
- Dedication
- Innovation and initiative
- Strong leadership qualities
- Approachability
- Integrity
- Commitment
- Enthusiasm
- Team working and flexible working skills
Tax Advisor of the Year
Open to any professional working within the taxation field.
Evidence of the following should be shown in entries:
- Increased/sustained financial achievement for the company
- Heightened quality of service since being in position
- Enterprise and added value
- Dedication
- Innovation and initiative
- Strong leadership qualities
- Approachability
- Integrity
- Commitment
- Enthusiasm
- Team working and flexible working skills
Accounting Technician of the Year
This award is open to student and full members of the AAT who have made a significant impact to their employer's or client's business (evidence of this will be required). The judges will be looking for evidence that the student or member has shown a high level of:
- Professionalism
- Innovation
- Responsiveness to customer needs (internal or external)
- Commitment to quality
- Leadership and team working
Branch of the Year
Branches of national and international organisations with North East offices providing accounting and audit services should enter this category.
Nominations should outline:
- Added value to clients
- Raised clients competitive advantage
- Developed company structure and enhanced customer effectiveness, client focus and innovation
- Increased the client base
- Developed unique services
- Provided a positive working environment
Independent Firm of the Year
To enter this category a firm must be an accounting practice head-officed in the North East and can be of up to six offices.
Nominations should outline:
- Added value to clients
- Raised clients competitive advantage
- Developed company structure and enhanced customer effectiveness, client focus and innovation
- Increased the client base
- Developed unique services
- Provided a positive working environment
Accounting and Finance Employer of the Year
Supply quantitative and qualitative evidence showing how your organisation provides and offers the best possible opportunities for your accounting and finance employees.
The judges are looking for evidence of:
- Supportive structure and environment
- Investment in employees including training
- Caring and staff well-being ie health and wealth
- Presenting opportunities, identifying and promoting potential
- Flexible working practices
- Employee benefits
- Promoting good practice, beliefs and values
- Innovation in work practice
- Good internal communication
- Demonstrating equality and diversity
Corporate Finance Deal of the Year
This award is open to corporate finance departments operating within accountancy firms, smaller boutique corporate finance firms where qualified accountants account for the majority of professional staff and corporate financial advisors.
The nomination must show that the finance team has been instrumental in securing the deal for the client as well as showing evidence of:
- Innovation in initiating the deal
- How the deal has maximised benefit to the regional economy
- Strong team work and dedication
- Flexibility in job roles to ensure the end result
- How the financial strength of all interested parties including advisors, customers, employees, financiers and owners is increased by the deal
Business Finance Team of the Year
This award is open to teams of two or more people from commerce and industry. Within the nomination please show evidence of the following, including quotes and testimonials from clients and customers where relevant.
Judges will assess the nomination on the following areas:
- Ability to work well as a team
- How your results have benefited your company and/or clients
- Increased business/retained client base through team work
- Increased productivity as a team
- Evidence of flexibility and colleague support
Public Sector Finance Team of the Year
This award is open to teams of two or more people from public and third sector organisations. Within the nomination please show evidence of the following, including quotes and testimonials from internal and external customers where relevant.
Nominations judged on:
- Ability to work well as a team
- How your results have benefited your organisation and/or customers
- Increased organisational performance, efficiency and effectiveness as a result of the teams work
- Increased productivity/ enhanced service delivery
- Evidence of flexibility and colleague support
Outstanding Achievement
This Award is open for nominations 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.
For this category the judges will be looking for demonstrations of superior working in the following areas:
- Significant achievement over many years
- Determination
- Enterprise
- Strategic development
- Leadership
- High quality of service
- Integrity
- Clear thought
- Attitude
- Innovation
For 2013 judges across all panels will also be able to submit nominations within the separate categories for the Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award based on showing evidence on all of the above.
General Guidelines on Nomination
Practices, employers, institutes, suppliers, colleagues together who all who have positive contact with the accounting profession are encouraged to make nominations. Accountancy professionals can also make their own entry. Throughout this document the term "Accountant(s)" can also be taken to mean "Auditor(s)".
Entry qualification of work from 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013.
Entries are open to all sectors of the industry operating within North East England.
All shortlisted nominees will be expected to attend the judging event on Wednesday 22nd May.
Criteria for each award can be seen by clicking on the relevant title above, or view/download them by clicking here.
Please note nominations will be accepted for one category per individual in categories 1 to 5.
Nomination Process
The first stage of nominations is filling in the on line form that requires contact details for the nominee and nominator and a statement on why the nominee deserves to win.
Please refer to the corresponding criteria to the Award being nominated for and detail specific details on why the nominee excels in these areas detailed. The statement must be no longer than 1000 words (it may be useful to save your nomination statement in word and copy and past this into the space provided, no more that 1000 words of text will copy into this section). Following your submission you will receive a confirmation email from the event office with full details of your application for your records.
Deadline for on line nominations is Tuesday 7th May at 12 noon, following this judges will receive all submitted nominations and where necessary shortlist a maximum of five nominees in each category.
Judging Process
A meet the judges event will then take place for all short-listed nominees on Wednesday 22nd May. This will be an opportunity to discuss the nomination with the relevant judging panel in a dedicated interview slot. Please note all nominees should be present for this event, non-attendance may significantly affect any nomination.
The winners of the Awards will then be announced at the Awards Dinner on Thursday 13th June 2013 at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead.