Lara Manton • Sep 14, 2022

The Accounting Excellence Awards

The Accounting Excellence Awards

The evening of the Accounting Excellence Awards was a strange one. Gemma Gilbert and I were sharing a taxi from the hotel with Danielle Fisher and Heather Elkington from GoProposal by Sage when the news broke.


The most empowering, inspiring woman, our Queen, had died.


We said she would want us to go on, to celebrate her, our wins, our industry and all the amazing people in it.


So that’s what we did - we networked, met new people, talked to people in person that we only usually meet online. Our table was brilliant with Lorraine Ellison FCMA, CGMA, MBA (Simply Additions Ltd), Helen Bower (Adder Bookkeeping Ltd), Natalie Binstead-Wey ACA CTA (BW Business Accountants and Advisors), Debbie Hancock ACMA (Southbourne Accountancy and Business Services) and Shezelle Hunt of Next Minute. We talked about challenges, how we support our clients, our wins, the difference in vegan vs normal protein powder (don’t ask!) and  how bookkeepers can support accountants.



We didn’t win but massive congratulations to Max McHugh (Ocelot Accounting Ltd) and Claire Bartlett MICB PM.Dip(Arden Bookkeeping),  Pink Pig Financials Ltd, Kreston Reeves and Crezco. We truly believe that taking part in these awards and being shortlisted is a great achievement for any business. To be recognised as an expert in your industry and acknowledged for making a difference for so many clients is a huge honour. We were up against some great competition and the night was a great success nonetheless, having shared many ideas with inspirational people. 


Speaking of inspirational, Paul Aplin OBE topped off the evening with a wonderful story about receiving his OBE from Her Majesty the Queen that resulted in a rather teary eyed audience and well deserved standing ovation.


It was lovely to finally get to chat to Della Hudson FCA - Accountants' Mentor in person, Rosalia Munro and Ami Copeland who were very glamorous and doing the ICB proud, the sense of community was immense.


We finished the night back at the hotel talking to Jo Wood (The 6 Figure Bookkeepers’ Club & Jo Wood Virtual FD Ltd) and the guys from Clarity, Aynsley Damery & Steven Briginshaw who gave us an insight into the software and how valuable Bookkeepers are in the community. 


We really enjoyed getting glammed up and being out and about meeting people face to face. Here’s to the next chapter for LJM Bookkeeping!


The next chapter is starting for our country, the next few weeks and months are going to feel different. The one constant presence in our lives has gone and will be greatly missed by many.


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