International Accounting Bulletin – Industry Forum and Awards 2014

Networking Reception and IAB Awards 2014.

To view the full category and criteria list, please click on the Categories button above

The networking cocktail reception will be accompanied by the IAB 2014
Awards ceremony. The IAB Awards have grown in importance since the
initial ceremony in 2012 and are very well respected within the
industry. We expect over 100 nominations across 10 categories.

The International Accounting Bulletin Awards are designed to
celebrate accounting achievements over the past year and shine light on
the individuals and businesses that have moved the industry forwards.

Some of the past winners include: PwC, KPMG, Grant Thornton
International, Crowe Horwath international, RSM, Deloitte, CaseWare,
IRIS.

This year you can nominate in 11 categories. Please note that two categories (IAB Personality of the Year and IAB Life Time Achievement Award)  will be awarded by the judging panel without prior nomination. Details of this year’s categories can be found here

• EXTENDED: The deadline for awards nomination has been extended to 5pm GMT on 13 June 2014
• Submissions can be made either on behalf of your own company or in recognition of a colleague or partner firm.
• Nominees should follow these simply guidelines to ensure their submission has the best chance of winning.
• Send your completed nomination to ana.gyorkos@timetric.com

Nomination format

• All nominations must be sent via email in pdf or Word format
• Please keep the main nomination document concise and let it not exceed two/three pages
• You can submit attachments to your nominations, but please ensure it is made clear this are supporting attachments

Nomination guidelines

Be open about your achievements
Information on submissions labelled CONFIDENTIAL will only be shown to members of the judging panel so please be open about successes. At the same time, even where financial information is in the public domain, please include it to provide a full picture of performance.

Support your opinions with facts
When judges compare firm on various criteria, a firm which can quote data on client satisfaction will be given precedence over one which claims “market-leading service quality” without evidence.

Be concise
Bullet points and short paragraphs supported by a couple of charts or graphs are better than long-winded presentations. Full nominations should be kept to a maximum of 1,000 words.

What makes you unique
 In every category, we are looking for firms that stand out from the crowd. When you list the things you do well, don’t forget to emphasise where you feel you are unique among your competitors, or where you do things differently from the rest of the industry.

Follow the criteria
While you are invited to raise any point you feel strengthens your nomination, we recommend clearly and directly addressing each point listed in the category criteria (see the link at the top of the page) – this allows judges to easily compare like with like, and will make sure there are no areas in which your nomination has nothing to say for itself.

Keep it current
Remember that in almost all categories, the award title contains the words “of the year”. For maximum impact, please refer to developments made and performance achieved in the last 12 months. While a record of success won’t hurt a nomination, it is the most recent activity that will win awards for nominees.

The list of award categories and judging criteria for 2014 can be found below. Send your completed nomination to ana.gyorkos@timetric.com

Previous winners can be found under the ‘Awards Winners’ tab

Network of the Year
The winner of this award will have demonstrated the execution of profitable growth strategies. They will be recognised by the industry as a reputable brand that consistantly delivers high quality professional services. The winner will have excelled in a number of key strategic and operational areas over the past 12 months. Nominees in this category must be compliant with the IFAC definition of a network.

Judges will consider:

• Financial performance globally and by region (in the context of a region’s economic performance)
• How effectively the network has strengthened its position in what it identifies as strategically important markets
• Evidence that the network has consistently provided a top-level standard in network-wide audit quality
• Evidence that member firms are an employer of choice
• Evidence of industry leadership, which could include initiatives such as thought leadership, demonstration of best practice, or playing a lead role in discussions over an issue affecting the industry
• Evidence of client satisfaction
• Evidence that the network has successfully implemented a strategy that helped it significantly improve its delivery of internal services to member firms and external services to clients
• Judges will also consider performance in the face of adversity, industry leadership and the promotion of the highest professional standards to business and the public

Previous winners:
2013: Grant Thornton International
2012: PwC 

Rising Star Network
The winner of this award might not be a household name but will have demonstrated exceptional growth, entrepreneurial flair and innovation in elevating its position in the market.

Judges will consider:

• Evidence of successful implementation of a strategy that has improved the network’s global position and reputation across the world
• Improved performance by fee income and global expansion
• Evidence that staff and client satisfaction has improved
• Proven innovation to enhance the network’s delivery services

Previous winners:
2012: Kreston International 

Association of the Year
The winner of this award will have demonstrated the execution of profitable growth strategies. They will be recognised by the industry as a reputable brand that consistently delviers high quality professional services. The winner will have excelled in a number of key strategic and operational areas over the past 12 months.

Judges will consider

• Financial performance globally and by region (in the context of a region’s economic performance)
• How effectively the association has strengthened its position in what it identifies as strategically important markets
• Evidence that the network has consistently provided a top-level standard in network wide audit quality
• Evidence that member firms are an employer of choice
• Evidence of industry leadership, which could include initiatives such as thought leadership, demonstration of best practice, or playing a lead role in discussions over an issue affecting the industry
• Evidence of client satisfaction
• Evidence that the association has successfully implemented a strategy that helped it significantly improve its delivery of internal services to member firms and external services to clients
• Judges will also consider performance in the face of adversity, industry leadership and the promotion of the highest professional standards to business and the public

Previous winners:
2013: MSI Global Alliance
2012: Morison International

Rising Star Association
The winner of this award might not be a household name but wil have demonstrated exceptional growth, entrepreneurial flair and innovation.

Judges will consider:

• Evidence of the successful implementation of a strategy that has improved the association’s global position and reputation across the world
• Improved ranking/market position/increased number of members
• Evidence that staff and client satisfaction has improved
• The use of innovation to greatly enhance the network’s delivery of services

Previous winners:
2013: Praxity
2012: Morison International

Categories for global networks/associations and single firms:

Audit Innovation of the Year 
This award will be given to the practice, network or association which has made a major, demonstrable impact on audit quality and client service. Judges will be looking for evidence of improvement in efficiency, accuracy and reliability. This innovation may have occurred across the whole network/association or just within an individual firm.

Judges will consider:

• Evidence of improvements in efficiency, accuracy and reliability
• Client satisfaction
• Evidence that the innovation is unique to the market it serves
• Evidence that the innovation has become a model of best practice to the market it serves

Previous winners:
2013: Mazars for its Corporate Culture Audit
2012: Mazars: Human Rights Audit

Advisory Firm of the Year 
This award will be given to a firm or global network/association which has been working on an advisory project or projects of significant importance or scale demonstrating the organisations advisory abilities. The judges will be looking at how a firm or global network/association has developed certain advisory capabilities and successfully helped clients with its expertise. Nominations welcome from different advisory areas from big data, cyber to management consultancy.

Judges will consider:

• Evidence that an organisations advisory service has made an important difference to the success of clients
• Evidence of outstanding innovation which has benefitted a client/industry
• Growth across the advisory service
• Nominations welcome of advisory assignments which have played an important role in wider society

Previous winners:
2013: Crowe Horwath international
2012: Deloitte London 2012

Employer of the Year
In this category IAB will award two Awards: one will be on a global network and association level and the other to a single firm. This firm/network or association will be widely acclaimed for the training and development of its employees. Judges will look for evidence of creative solution to attracting and retaining talent.

Judges will consider:

• Evidence of creative solutions for attraction and retaining talent
• Evidence of innovative and successful schemes to attract and retain talent
• Evidence of high staff satisfaction and high rentention rates will also be taken into account

Previous winners:
2013: Plante Moran
2012: Plante Moran (United States)

Sustainable Firm of the Year
In this category IAB will award two Awards: one will be on a global network and association level and the other to a single firm. This award will be won by a firm/network or association demonstrating excellence in corporate social responsibility and environmental initiatives that not only reduce the firm’s carbon footprint but make a meaningful difference to the success of the firm.

Judges will consider:

• Evidence of how CSR initiatives are improving firm performance
• Evidence of the implementation of cutting-edge sustainable solutions
• Evidence for how firms are helping their clients meet CSR objectives as well as operational improvements through innovation and effective execution of CSR services
• Special consideration will be given to initiatives that have created a market-wide benchmark

Previous winners:
2013: KPMG and SizweNtsalubaGobodo
2012: KPMG

IT Vendor of the Year
Judges encourage nominations for technology suppliers and consultants, as well as accountancy practices for this award. Judges will look for evidence of how effective deployment of technology has reduced costs, improved quality and/or increased opportunities for growth.

Judges will consider:

• Evidence of how the effective deployment of technology has reduced costs, improved quality and/or increased opportunities for growth
• Proven track record of new software/technology developed to assist the accounting profession
• Software innovation

Previous winners:
2013: IRIS
2012: CaseWare International

Social Networking Champion of the Year 
Judges will be looking at what association/network has made significant progress in building its social media network and has demonstrated most creativity and innovation in their social media strategy. The judges will be looking at platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Judges will consider:

• Evidence of creative strategy used to increase group members and followers
• Innovative and creative strategies to build brand awareness through social media
• Use of multiple social media platforms to assist with brand awareness
• Examples of successful use of social media to assist with the organisations strategy

Previous winners:
2013: KPMG

International Accounting Bulletin Young Accountant of the Year
The winner of this award will have qualified in the past 10 years and will have made a significant difference to their employer. Judges will be looking for evidence of entrepreneurial flair, technical excellence and leadership potential. Nominations for this award must be under 35 years old.

Previous winners:
2013: Sarah Griffiths & Masuzyo Mulenga
2012: Trond-Morten Lindberg (BDO Norway)

International Accounting Bulletin Personality of the Year
The winner of this award will be chosen by the editorial team of International Accounting Bulletin and the judging panel. We will be looking for an industry leader who is not scared to take a stand and who is outspoken on the issues affecting the profession.

Previous winners:
2013: Pauline Wallace
2012: Jeremy Newman

International Accounting Bulletin Lifetime Achievement Award

The winner of this award will be chosen by the editorial team of International Accounting Bulletin and the judging panel. This award recognises consistent levels of achievement within the profession over a number of years.

Previous winners:
2013: Ian Ball 
2012: Sir David Tweedie

2014 Awards Shortlist

Winners of the 2014 Awards will be announced live at the International Accounting Bulletin Industry Forum & Awards on 16th September 2014.

NETWORK OF THE YEAR
BDO
Grant Thornton International
PwC
RSM International

RISING STAR NETWORK
AUREN
TGS Global

ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR
BKR International
INPACT
Praxity

RISING STAR ASSOCIATION
ANTEA
Alliot Group
Praxity

AUDIT INOVATION OF THE YEAR
In this category we only felt one nomination was deserving of short listing and will be announced as the winner on the night of the awards.

ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR
In this category we only felt one nomination was deserving of short listing and will be announced as the winner on the night of the awards.

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
Grant Thornton International
Plante Moran           
WithumSmith+Brown

SUSTAINABLE FIRM OF THE YEAR
KPMG
Moss Adams
Moores Rowland Indonesia
PwC UK

SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKING CHAMPION OF THE YEAR:
Single firm award:
Baker Tilly Malaysia
Ebner Stolz (Nexia International member firm)

Global firm award:
KPMG
Mazars

IT VENDOR
Energy Consulting (HLB Russian Group)
Receipt Bank
Xero