BDO Stoy Hayward beat off rivals to monopolise Accountancy Age Awards

Accountants at BDO Stoy Hayward were celebrating after sweeping the board at the Accountancy Age Awards, beating off strong competition from many of their industry peers.

The firm, which has a Birmingham office on Colmore Row, won three awards: Tax Team of the year, Audit Team of the Year and Corporate Finance Deal of the Year. Simon Michaels, managing partner, BDO Stoy Hayward, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we have been recognised as the leaders in the profession. It is our desire and commitment to put clients first that really made a difference. The awards prove our long-held belief that BDO is a great place to work, with strong people who deliver great results for clients.”

The national Corporate Finance team completed 216 deals in 2007, valued at almost £8.5 billion, and 253 deals in 2006, valued at almost £8.1 billion. The corporate finance team has grown from 34 to 45 partners working out of 14 UK regional business centres with 281 staff nationally in the last year, an increase of 41 per cent on 2006/2007.

Of the audit practice, the judges said: “The firm clearly listens to clients and offers a more personalised service.”

At the Tax practice the firm’s client satisfaction rating rose from 7.7 to 8.3. Revenues grew by 25.75 per cent to £105 million, beating the firm’s 20.5 per cent target. The firm expanded with the acquisition of Chiltern in October 2007 and Lines Wilson in March 2008.

The judges said of the Tax division: “This is a team that’s produced great growth in revenues and demonstrated real ambition, especially with its acquisition strategy. There’s real commitment to the clients and a well-honed focus on what they are attempting to do demonstrating real clarity of thought.”

Mark Anslow, lead partner of Birmingham office of BDO, said: “These wins are testament to the talented and committed people we have in the firm – not only in Audit, Tax and Corporate Finance but in all streams and sector groups - and they also remind our clients and the market of the strength and quality they can expect from BDO.”