CRITERIA FOR THE TAXATION AWARDS 2012
Please read the general information, and then that for each award you
intend to enter.
GENERAL
Entries can be accepted from a firm, organisation or individual. It is possible to
nominate someone other than yourself for an individual award, but it is your
responsibility to ensure that you have the agreement of the nominee.
The same team or individual cannot enter the same award that they won last
year. A different team or individual from last year’s winning firm may enter the
same award, and it may be appropriate for the same team to enter a different
award.
Note that, except where specified for the Big 4 and National awards, a team
cannot be entered for more than one award.
The judges’ decision is final and their deliberations are confidential. All judges are
requested to sign a form to keep all information they receive confidential.
Further general criteria for team and individual awards are given below.
TEAM AWARDS
Above all, the judges will be looking for clear and specific evidence of teamwork
(rather than individual achievement) and signs of how the team has found a way
to offer an exceptional service to its clients by adding extra value and bringing a
competitive advantage to the firm or company.
Client testimonials are a useful source of evidence. Other factors that will be
considered by the judges will include:

development of relationship with clients;

commitment to professionalism and high ethical standards;

evidence of proven success; and

any innovative use of technology or response to a new tax challenge.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
For all of the individual awards (but with appropriate modifications for ‘rising
star’) the judges are looking for someone who is indisputably a leader in their
field.
They will normally have a very high level of technical ability coupled with an
impressive record of achievement, often including thought-leadership in their
specialist area. Professionalism and high ethical standards are also required.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This award recognises an individual who has made a sustained and significant
impact in tax during the whole of their career, as opposed solely to achievements
in the last year. The judges will consider the unique qualities which have earned
this individual the respect of their colleagues and peers.
Past winners have normally been acknowledged current, or very recently retired,
leaders within the tax profession. Nominees are often put forward by their peers,
though you may also nominate yourself. Nominations are also sometimes put
forward by the judges on the day, but a full written nomination is always
preferable.
WINNER 2011: BRUCE SUTHERLAND
TAX PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
This award honours an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in
the field of tax in the past year. The judges are looking primarily at the
achievements in the last 12 months but will also consider success in previous
years.
Past years show that this is the award where judges are most likely to override
the set criteria and choose a surprising winner in order to accurately reflect the
most important tax issues of the year.
Nominees are often put forward by their peers, though you may also nominate
yourself. Nominations are also sometimes put forward by the judges on the day,
but a full written nomination is always preferable.
WINNER 2011: DAVID GAUKE MP
TAX WRITER OF THE YEAR
This award will go to the individual who has shown a proven ability to write
knowledgeably about key tax issues whether in newspapers, magazines, trade
publications or on websites.
Past winners have shown an ability to tackle complex issues in a manner that is
accessible to either tax advisers or taxpayers or both.
Equally the judges will be looking for insight, thought-leadership and analysis.
Entrants should send a maximum of 5 examples of recent material. If it is not
possible to provide these electronically, or to provide links to them, please ask for
advice on the number of hard copies required.
WINNER 2011: GRAHAM ELLIOTT
TAXATION’S RISING STAR
This award will go to an individual who, while not yet at the height of their career,
is rapidly making a name for himself or herself in the tax world. It is open to
those specialising in any tax discipline, and anywhere within the UK tax
profession.
Entries should show that the nominee is already making a real contribution well in
excess of their peers, and is recognised by others as one who will be a high flyer
for the future.
WINNER 2011: ZOE WYATT
BEST ‘BIG FOUR’ TAX TEAM
Teams from qualifying firms may enter for this award as well as in another
category which reflects the type of work they do. The winner of this category will
be a specific tax team in a big four firm which has a record of achievement, client
service (internal or external) and teamwork that marks it out in a highly
competitive field.
It can be any size, but must clearly be a single team, particularly if spread across
more than one office – judges will be looking for evidence of genuine team spirit
and identity.
By their nature such teams are often very specialist – please include enough
information about the sector for the judges to get a clear idea of what the team
does.
WINNER 2011: DELOITTE TAX DISPUTE RESOLUTION GROUP
BEST TAX TEAM IN A NATIONAL FIRM
This category is for tax and accountancy firms which offer a countrywide full tax
service from a network of offices that is not limited to any one geographical
region.
Teams from qualifying firms may enter for this award as well as in another
category that reflects the type of work they do, if that is appropriate. Nominees
may be specific sector teams, the tax team in one of the firm’s offices, or the
whole tax department.
The need to demonstrate teamwork should be taken into account in determining
which of these to enter. Past winners have shown a commitment to innovation
and pro-active tax advice.
WINNER 2011 (LARGE FIRM CATEGORY): NATIONAL TAX STREAM BDO
BEST TAX PRACTICE IN A REGIONAL FIRM
For firms which, while not having a national presence, operate from more than
one office and provide a general tax service direct to clients (tax consultancy
teams have a specialist category).
Judges will apply the general criteria to the client tax service as a whole, whether
this is provided by a specialist team or the whole practice, and the entry should
be prepared on this basis. Judges will be looking for levels of service, growth,
innovation and/or client satisfaction which mark this practice out from their
peers.
NEW CATEGORY
BEST SINGLE OFFICE TAX PRACTICE
Open to any firm run from a single office (regardless of the number of principals
or employees) offering a general tax service direct to clients.
As well as applying the criteria applicable to the regional tax practice category as
appropriate, judges will be looking for evidence of the extra level of personal
service and commitment which these practices can offer their clients.
NEW CATEGORY
BEST TAX TEAM IN A LAW FIRM
This award honours those tax teams which work within legal firms of all sizes.
The judges will be looking for evidence of innovative work which adds value to
clients; clear examples of team work and proven performance in excess of
expectations.
They will also consider examples of how the team has worked together to
produce effective results. Entrants are strongly advised to download the 2011
judges’ report and read the section relating to this category.
WINNER 2011: BURGES SALMON TAX DEPARTMENT
BEST IN-HOUSE TAX TEAM
This award is designed to recognise the important position of in-house tax
experts in industry and business in dealing with the tax affairs of their employer.
Past winners have shown versatility and technical depth which added value either
in furthering strategic objectives or maximising shareholder value, or both.
WINNER 2011: DIXONS TAX TEAM
BEST TAX CONSULTANCY TEAM
This award is for a team which only offers a stand-alone specialist tax consultancy
service, to other advisers, direct to clients, or both. Judges will be looking for a
high degree of specialist knowledge and innovation.
WINNER 2011: E3 CONSULTING
BEST INTERNATIONAL TAX TEAM
Teams in this category will deal with clients in many different countries. Past
winners have shown an ability to bring together diverse skills, and to respond to
the specific needs of their clients.
Where teams are spread over several locations, entries should explain how they
ensure they still work as a team. While parts of the team may be located
overseas, it must be able to show that it is a primarily UK-based team.
WINNER 2011: PWC M&A TAX TEAM
BEST HIGH NET WORTH TEAM
This category is for teams which offer exceptional service to high net worth
personal tax clients.
Past winners have shown a commitment to personal service and holistic advice,
and their entries have shown evidence (including client testimonials) of the extra
value which they bring and the depth and quality of their tax advice.
WINNER 2011: DELOITTE INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE CLIENT TEAM
BEST VAT TEAM
This award will go to a team which has proven specialist skills in providing
exceptional advice in the field of VAT.
Past winners have shown either a wide range of services or a very high level of
expertise in a specialist area, an in-depth knowledge of their field of tax and an
innovative or exceptional service
WINNER 2011: MCGRIGORS VAT TEAM
BEST TAX INVESTIGATIONS TEAM
This award seeks to find a top quality team which specialises in tax investigation
and/or dispute resolution work, providing effective solutions to clients and
managing the difficult demands of enquiry work.
The judges will be looking for a team which stands out as offering the best level
of service, the greatest levels of technical ability and which can provide
supporting evidence of success. Because of the nature of the work, testimonials
may be anonymised, but the originals should be available for confidential
verification.
WINNER 2011: MCGRIGORS TAX INVESTIGATIONS TEAM
BEST TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
This award is open to all software suppliers, professional firms, companies,
charities, etc.
The judges will be looking for a software package, website, or similar use of
technology which shows innovation and invention in addressing a need either of
taxpayers themselves or of their advisers. If appropriate, a demonstration file,
website access, etc should be provided for the judges.
WINNER 2011: IRIS ACCOUNTANCY SOLUTIONS