The Digital Accountancy Forum & Awards 2018
Date 03 October 2018
The Digital Accountancy Forum & Awards has grown from strength to strength in recent years. Starting as an awards reception in 2012, we will be returning to London in 2018 with our industry forum followed by a gala awards ceremony aimed at UK, European and global accounting firm leaders. On the 4th October at the iconic Waldorf Hilton we will once again bring together c-level professionals from accounting firms, regulators and industry bodies, consultancies and advisors, law firms and tech vendors to discuss some of the most pressing issues the industry faces today:
Event Highlights :
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Attend The Accountant & International Accounting Bulletin Forum & Awards 2018 to:
The annual event brings together decision-makers and specialists from
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STANDARD RATES | |
Firms, Networks & Associations – Forum and Awards Dinner | £565 |
Industry Solution Providers – Forum and Awards Dinner | £995 |
Awards Gala Dinner Ticket | £350 |
Bring the team 3 for 2 (Only applies to standard rate)
Terms and Conditions Changes and Cancellation Force Majeure |
Richard Anning, Head of IT Faculty, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) |
Matthew Baker, Senior Manager, Global Blockchain Assurance, EY “Blockchain is beginning to disrupt a wide range of business models, and the risks to blockchain users are beginning to materialize. Questions are arising such as: who provides assurances to ICO investors over how their funds are being used? Or who is best placed to support enterprises manage unique risks when participating in blockchain networks; from monitoring & reviewing the smart contracts deployed, to attesting connections between the blockchain (‘on-chain’) & ‘off-chain’ environments.” |
Martin Bissett, Founder, The Upward Spiral Partnership Ltd |
Jeanne Boillet, Global Assurance Innovation Leader, EY |
Simon Bulleyment, Chief Information Officer, haysmacintyre
As a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) since 2005, Simon’s main area of expertise is security and he regularly delivers security and IT system reviews and offers advice to clients on the Data Protection Act, Payment Card Industry Data Security standard (PCI DSS), Cyber Essentials, penetration testing and post cyber-attack investigations. |
Matthew Campbell , Audit Technology Director, KPMG
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Katie Canell, UK Audit Innovation Lead, Deloitte
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Alex Davis, Business Development Manager, Intuit QuickBooks
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Mark Edmondson, CEO & President, Inflo
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Philip Fitz-Gerald, Director, Financial Reporting Lab, Financial Reporting Council
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Danny Gal, Chief Revenue Officer, Validis
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Peggy Gondo, Assurance Transformation partner, PwC
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Andrew Harding, Chief Executive, Management Accounting, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
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Markus Kammüller, Global Head of Transformation, BDO International Ltd
Markus is supporting the discovery and deployment of new technology solutions for the BDO global organisation and how those will impact the future business model. Artificial intelligence, Data Analytics, Blockchain and client portal solutions form part of that portfolio. |
Paul B. Kazarian, Chairman and CEO, Japonica Partners
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Jamie Lyon, Interim Director – Professional Insights, ACCA
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Sinead McHale, CEO, Satago
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Sheila Pancholi, Partner – Technology Risk Assurance, RSM UK |
Tony Margaritelli, Chairman, The Institute of Certified Practising Accountants (ICPA) |
Chris Potter, Assurance Transformation partner, PwC |
Sylvia Wei Yen Tsen, Executive Director, Knowledge, Operations & Technology, International Federation of Accountants |
ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS FOR THE THE DIGITAL ACCOUNTANCY FORUM & AWARDS 2018 INCLUDE:
The awards nominations are now closed, you can find the shortlisted on the relevant tab above.
The winners will be announce at the Digital Accountancy Forum & Awards night on 4th October.
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 consistently 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
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. Nominees in this category must be compliant with the IFAC definition of a network.
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
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 delivers 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 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
Rising Star Association
The winner of this award might not be a household name but will 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
Audit Innovation of the Year
This award will be given to a practice, network or association, which has with a new initiative or innovation in audit made a major change in improving audit quality, efficiency or added value to clients. This innovation could be an addition to an existing audit product/process or a completely new initiative.
Judges will look at the benefits and cutting edge thinking behind the innovation.
This innovation may have occurred across the whole network/association or just within an individual firm or is a project.
Judges will consider
- Evidence of improvements in efficiency, accuracy and reliability
- Client satisfaction and added value
- Contribution to improved audit quality and reliability
- Potential to keep the relevance and value of assurance services, at a time when firms grow revenues through advisory and ancillary services
Advisory Project of the Year
This award will be given to a local firm or global network/association which has been working on an advisory project or projects of significant importance or scale demonstrating the organisation’s 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 on specific assignment. Nominations are welcome from all advisory areas. Special consideration will be made for projects with a social and environmental impact.
Judges will consider:
- Evidence that an organisation’s advisory service has made an important difference to the success of a specific client project
- Evidence of outstanding innovation demonstrated during the work on the project which has benefitted a client/industry
- Nominations for advisory assignments which have played an important role in wider society will receive special consideration, as well as those with an approach that promotes healthy and constructive competition or collaboration within the winner’s different service lines
Employer of the Year
In this category the winning single firm or professional body will demonstrate its commitment to its workforce through staff retention strategy and innovative thinking in securing new talent.
The winner will be widely acclaimed for the training and development of its employees as well as their benefits structure. Judges will look for evidence of creative solution to attracting and retaining talent as well as growing a diverse workforce and leadership.
Judges will consider
- Evidence of creative solutions for attraction and retaining talent
- Evidence of commitment to a diverse workforce
- Evidence of industry leading methods and efforts in the area of human resources
- Evidence of high staff satisfaction and high retention rates will also be taken into account
Sustainability Champion of the Year
The winner will have demonstrated its commitment to sustainability in the financial and accounting sectors by being a driver for change in other organisations. The winner will have developed solutions, tools, innovative
thinking and products with the aim of helping organisations develop long term strategies towards a more sustainable economy.
Judges will consider
- The winner’s achievements in the past year in helping others in their sustainability practices
- Relevance of the winner’s activities for the financial and accounting sectors
- Advocacy of a sustainable agenda and promotion of a responsible corporate culture
- Encouragement of long-term thinking and awareness of codes of good corporate governance and ethics
- Evidence of a solid grasp of the different frameworks and new standards on sustainability and non-financial information, with a knack for improving them and tailoring them to client’s needs
Expense Management Software of the Year
The winning expense management software product will showcase great levels of user satisfaction and industry leading product features. Nominations will be accepted from companies showcasing a new product or a successful addition of features to existing software.
Judges will consider
- Showcasing the innovation and market leading technology
- Evidence of how the effective deployment of the software has reduced costs, improved quality and/or increased opportunities for growth
- Evidence of how the product has helped users and achieved high levels of user satisfaction
- Proven track record of new software/technology developed to assist the accounting profession
CRM Software of the Year
The winning customer relationship management software product will showcase great levels of user satisfaction and industry leading product features. Nominations will be accepted from companies showcasing a new product or a successful addition of features to existing software.
Judges will consider
- Showcasing the innovation and market leading technology
- Evidence of how the effective deployment of the software has reduced costs, improved quality and/or increased opportunities for growth
- Evidence of how the product has helped users and achieved high levels of user satisfaction
- Proven track record of new software/technology developed to assist the accounting profession
Communication Campaign of the Year
This award will recognise the work of a communications/marketing/brand ambassadors team across the whole range of accountancy stakeholders (firms, professional bodies, federations, standard-setters, regulators, etc). The winner will have contributed to making successful a campaign that, while being relevant, has excelled in the way it has been communicated.
Judges will consider
- Substance, relevance and importance of the campaign/s or initiative/s that has been promoted
- Creativity, wittiness and originality of the format, language, style and tone used to address your audience
- Ability to explain a technical topic, grabbing the attention of the targeted audience, with an underlying ambition of reaching or getting other professions or industries (investors, politicians, lawmakers, civil society, etc.) interested
- Dexterity in capturing the philosophy, values and core mission of your organisation, effectively transmitting a vital message to the winner’s audience
Thought Leadership Initiative of the Year
This category will celebrate the success of a firm, network/association, professional body, regulator, professional federation etc., which has with its thought leadership initiative made a significant contribution towards trying to
raise a particular issue, sparking or making a lasting impact on industry debates. Nominations welcome on thought leadership initiatives from the financial and non-financial arena
Judges will consider
- The impact the thought leadership has had towards influencing a particular topic
- Evidence of engagement from stakeholders
- Thought provoking content and fresh ways of looking at a particular topic
- Long-lasting impact
Professional Body of the Year
The winning professional body should wield a profound influence within the accountancy industry and beyond: finance and business world, government and society as a whole. The winner will be a top influencer that not only serves effectively its membership but also safeguards the public interest nature of the profession, as well as contributes to the values and skills that accountants should master.
Judges will consider
- Full disclosure of membership information, such as fully qualified members or members pursuing the professional body’s qualification, including country-by-country disclosure for global bodies
- Evidence of a strong and/or sustainable growth and development strategy, which meets market demand for skilled professionals
- An effective good governance structure, that upholds and supports principles of public interest
- Evidence of its influence in the industry of a country, region or internationally, through thought leadership campaigns, constructive lobby initiatives and/or research efforts
- Relevant, innovative and successful professional qualification, if applicable
- Solid oversight of its certification/examinations and/or regulatory powers of the profession, if applicable
Accounting Capacity Building Champion of the Year
The winning accountancy stakeholder will demonstrate a strong commitment to developing the profession in emerging countries and/or regions where it is acknowledged that the accountancy infrastructure can be improved. The successful organisation will have contributed (financially and/or by sharing expertise through secondments or other means) to create a more robust framework for doing business, reinforce institutions and strengthen government accountability.
Judges will consider
- Initiatives in the field of accountancy education that have attracted talent and improved the quality of university and professional bodies’ syllabus
- Professional training projects or ad hoc programmes that have empowered practising or part-qualified accountants working for government, accountancy firms, businesses or organisations involved in the development of the country’s financial infrastructure
- Cooperation initiatives that have improved the regulation and oversight of the accountancy profession
- Advocacy projects that have raised awareness on the importance of strengthening public finance management or helped drafted or passed laws that have or will improve government accountability
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 his or her employer. Judges will be looking for evidence of entrepreneurial flair, technical excellence and leadership potential. The young accountant will be a professional employed in practice, business, government or another organisation in which his or her accountancy skill has become an essential asset.
Personality of the Year
We will be looking for an industry leader who is not scared to take a stand who is outspoken on the issues affecting the profession and who has made a significant contribution in the past year. Nominations are welcome from people in practice as well as business.
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award recognises consistent levels of achievement within the profession over a number of years. Nominations are welcome from people in practice as well as business.
Accountancy Software of the Year
The winning accounting practice software product will showcase great levels of user satisfaction and industry leading product features. Nominations will be accepted from companies showcasing a new product or a successful addition of features to existing software.
Judges will consider
- Showcasing the innovation and market leading technology
- Evidence of how the effective deployment of the software has reduced costs, improved quality and/or increased opportunities for growth
- Evidence of how the product has helped users and achieved high levels of user satisfaction
- Proven track record of new software/technology developed to assist the accounting profession
This year’s finalists of Digital Accountancy Awards are:
Network of the Year
BDO
Nexia International
Russell Bedford International
Association of the Year
Abacus Worldwide
Allinial Global
BDO Alliance USA
Praxity Global Alliance Ltd
Rising Star Association of the Year
Abacus Worldwide
Allinial Global
INPACT
Pros Assist
Audit Innovation of the Year
Deloitte & Touche LLP
EY
F&L Corporate Reporting Services Limited
PwC
Validis
Employer of the Year
Crowe LLP
Grant Thornton International Limited
Green Hasson Janks
Accountancy Software of the Year
Arthur Online
FreeAgent
Inflo
INTUIT
IRIS
Know Your Customer
Expense Management Software of the Year
AutoEntry
Compleat Software
CRM Software of the Year
Insightly Inc
Satago
Communication Campaign of the Year – Network/Association
BDO Brazil
Nexia International
PP&C AUDITORES INDEPENDENTES
Praxity Global Alliance Ltd
Communication Campaign of the Year – Professional Body
ACCA
Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada)
IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants)
Thought Leadership Initiative of the Year
American Institute of CPAs (AICPA)
BKR International
Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada)
Climate Disclosure Standards Board (part of CDP Worldwide)
Green Hasson Janks
INTUIT
Professional Body of the Year
ACCA
IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants)
International Accounting Bulletin Young Accountant of the Year
Winner to be announced on the evening
Advisory Project of the Year
Winner to be announced on the evening
Sustainability Champion of the Year
Winner to be announced on the evening
Accounting Capacity Building Champion of the Year
Winner to be announced on the evening
Rising Star Network
Winner to be announced on the evening
International Accounting Bulletin Personality of the Year
Winner to be announced on the evening
International Accounting Bulletin Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner to be announced on the evening
Editor’s Award
Winner to be announced on the evening
Rachel Grimes, IFAC President Ms. Grimes is currently Chief Financial Officer, Group Technology Finance at Westpac Group, a multinational financial services firm. Previous to this, Ms. Grimes was Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Westpac. She has more than 25 years of experience across the financial services sector, working with Westpac and BT Financial Group as well as for PwC. |
Vincent Huck, editor, Insurance Asset Risk Before that, Vincent worked as a journalist for various online and print publications in the United Kingdom, France, and South Africa, covering topics from economy to development, and politics to sports. Vincent graduated from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, and City University in London. |
Misha Lobban, CLARKE, ICAC CEO Misha holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/Political Science and a Master of Arts in Communication Studies. She is also certified by the International Finance Corporation/Global Corporate Governance Forum as a trainer in Corporate Governance Board Leadership. Misha sits as an ex-officio member on the Board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean. She is also former Director of the Board of the St. Andrew High School Foundation; her alma mater as well as a long-standing member and Trustee and Executive Officer of the Public Relations Society of Jamaica (PRSJ). |
Christopher Magarian, Finance Group Director of Japonica Partners |
If you are interested to speak at the conference please contact Teresa Ndlovu on:
T: +44 (0) 207 936 6691
E: Teresa.Ndlovu@compelo.com
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