Tips for getting shortlisted for an award!

As the AccountingExcellence Awards creep closer, we asked seven finalists from last year: What tips would you give to other firms to get shortlisted?

Last year, the AccountingExcellence Award Finalists page listed 10 ‘AccountancyManager firms’ and we were rather chuffed. We managed to speak to seven of these firms about their businesses and luckily, they were more than happy to let you in on their secrets.

1. Start planning for accounting awards now

Jay Wilson is Managing Director of New Firm of the Year Finalist – Jaccountancy. He says, “Plan now ahead of next year… for the application to be the best that it can possibly be.

“My top tip for firms to get shortlisted would be to provide ample time to write the application initially. You only get a short amount of space to write your answer and rushing an application will inevitably fail. Plan now ahead of next year, to allow as much time as it takes, for the application to be the best that it can possibly be.”

2. Put yourself in the judges’ shoes

Jason Dalton is Business Development Manager at Safe Hands Bookkeeping – Bookkeeping Team of the Year Finalist. His advice is to remember that “The judges won’t know anything about you… [and] you only get 200 words per section.

“Firstly, you’ve got to be in it to win it, so if you want to be shortlisted you need to throw your hat into the ring!

“Secondly, when doing your submission, consider what you want to say about your business. The judges won’t know anything about you and with limited space (you only get 200 words per section) you need to think about what sets you apart and why they would care.”

3. Just be your amazing self

For Khiya Kara – as for all of our finalists – getting shortlisted really starts way before you sit down to write the application. Khiya’s practice, Kara Bookkeeping Solutions, was up for Small Firm of the Year 2022.

Khiya shares, “Identify what you can do that no-one else can do and then be amazing at it. Your clients will appreciate you for it and others in the industry will recognise you for it. Just be your amazing self!!”

4. Be unique, mission-focused and team-oriented

Will Sterling is the founder of Sterling Accounting Solutions, and the rapid growth of SAS earned the firm a shortlisting for Fast Track Firm of the Year.

Will’s advice? “The tips we would offer to other firms to be shortlisted would be: try to be unique to who you are as a firm, stick to your mission statement, get your team fully invested in the business, and put yourself out there.”

5. Stay authentic in all that you do

Shortlisted for Specialist Firm of the Year, The Aesthetics Accountant is owned by Samantha Senior.

Samantha recommends to “stay authentic in all that you do – it is quite often that I am having to deliver a message to the sector that they don’t want to hear. (In our niche industry this is the VAT on Medical Treatments.) In doing so, we’ve saved a lot of potential problems from happening.

“It may not be the news your clients want to hear but staying in your integrity and operating from a place that you know to be true will create a trust that promises longevity in partnerships.”

6. Be employee-led and encourage wellbeing

Both Rachel Harris and her firm striveX have earned their spots on the AccountingExcellence Awards. Rachel was shortlisted for Breakout Star of the Year and striveX for the Investing in People Award.

Rachel says that “some of your team won’t want to follow a typical route and your company won’t benefit from trying to pigeon hole them. Employees will be more engaged, happy and have more success with clients if they’re happy with their career – maximising their learning with hands-on experience.

“Find ways to reward staff regularly […] rewards that are in line with the value-add of their development.

“We encourage wellbeing and good mental health practices, fostering a positive culture and ensuring staff slow down when they need to. We embrace our roles as mentors, and ensure we understand what’s being studied so that we can provide support.”

7. Keep a record – and write from the heart

Natalie Binstead-Wey is owner of BW Business Advisers, Finalist for Sole Practitioner of the Year.

Her advice is to “write your application from the heart so that your passion and ambition shine through! Keep a record of your achievements during the year so that it is really easy to write your submission.

“You’re able to submit supporting documentation with your application so that you can demonstrate your achievements to the judges. Finally, write your application from the heart so that your passion and ambition shine through!”

Where can I go from here?

We had a chat recently with two other firms that were shortlisted for accountancy awards. Click the link below to watch it back and hear about what made their firms stand out.

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