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In association with Sage, the inaugural Yorkshire Accountancy Awards, from organiser Barker Brooks Communications, saw more than 350 professionals gather at New Dock Hall in Leeds to celebrate the achievements of the region’s leading lights.

The second in a series of awards ceremonies celebrating the achievements of professional services in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards is the first event of its kind dedicated solely to accountancy in the region.

Modelled on the highly successful and well-established Yorkshire Legal Awards, which routinely attracts more than 800 lawyers from across the region, the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards featured 18 categories to best demonstrate the skills and expertise of the profession in the region.

The Yorkshire Accountancy Awards saw Deloitte and Grant Thornton pick up three awards each, and a whole host of colleagues and firms celebrate impressive wins.

Among Deloitte’s haul was Best Employer of the Year, Tax Team of the Year and Support Staff of the Year. Grant Thornton, meanwhile, was recognised for Brand of the Year, Rising Star of the Year and Managing Partner of the Year.

Attendees enjoyed a three-course meal and live music, as well as stand-up comedy from host Ellie Taylor, star of Snog Marry Avoid and The Mash Report.

“The time has come for the accountancy profession to be recognised for the work that it does in Yorkshire,” says Barker Brooks Commercial Director Alex Gray. “This is our inaugural awards, but the profession in Yorkshire has responded remarkably from the outset, laying the ground for the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards to grow and continue to showcase the collective achievements of the region’s best and brightest for years to come.”

John Cullen, Professor of Management Accounting at Sheffield University Management School, presented the the Public Services Finance Team of the Year award to winner North Yorkshire County Council. He comments: “The event was excellent. I have attended many such awards and the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards was, by far, one of the best organised.”

All of the photos from the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards are available to view now.

Below is a full list of winners from last night’s Yorkshire Accountancy Awards:

Best Employer of the Year (Sponsored by Sage)
Deloitte

Independent Firm of the Year (Sponsored by Blacks Solicitors)
Watson Buckle Chartered Accountants

Mid-Tier Firm of the Year (Sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks)
Sagars

Large Firm of the Year (Sponsored by Porsche Leeds)
KPMG Leeds

New Firm of the Year
Wilson Howe Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors

Corporate Finance Team of the Year
Dow Schofield Watts

Advisory Team of the Year
Shorts

Tax Team of the Year (Sponsored by Sage)
Deloitte

Public Services Finance Team of the Year
North Yorkshire County Council

Trainee of the Year (Sponsored by The Apprenticeship Guide)
Faye Sherwood, Sowerby FRS

Rising Star of the Year (Sponsored by Handelsbanken)
Hannah Barraclough, Grant Thornton UK

Finance Director of the Year
Stephen Willis, University of Hull

Brand of the Year
Grant Thornton UK

Support Staff of the Year
Heather Priestley, Deloitte

Yorkshire Advisor of the Year
Martin Mellor, Mellor Financial Management

Partner of the Year (Sponsored by Compleat Software)
Lee Marshall, RSM

Managing Partner of the Year (Sponsored by Brewin Dolphin)
Andy Wood, Grant Thornton UK

Yorkshire Accountant of the Year (Sponsored by Sage)
Richard Smedley, Richard Smedley Chartered Accountants

About Barker Brooks Communications

Barker Brooks Communications is a Yorkshire-based media company that specialises in live events and trusted media content in B2B professional markets, including law, financial services, education and a range of medical sectors: www.barkerbrooks.co.uk

About the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards

The Yorkshire Accountancy Awards celebrate the achievements and successes of the region’s best and brightest. Its categories are designed to encourage nominations from small independent, mid-tier and large firms while also offering a wide range of individual and team awards: www.yorkshireaccountancyawards.co.uk and @YA_awards on Twitter

For more information, contact:

Mark Dugdale: mark.dugdale@barkerbrooks.co.uk

Helen Gibson: helen.gibson@barkerbrooks.co.uk