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PEA15 Large Practice of the Year nominees

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17th Jul 2015
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As experienced by most accountants, practice excellence is a relatively straightforward concept, based around a strong empathy with clients, communicating well and attending to their needs in a timely manner.

For sole practitioners and small practices, these qualities are innate - a good accountant knows what they should do, and there is ample evidence from Practice Excellence Award entrants that this is what they are doing.

But how do you scale up these qualities when the firm grows? That is the ultimate challenge faced by contenders in our large firm category, who have eight or more partners. Good technology and processes, and maintaining consistent levels of service while working on new business development are all prerequisites for success - whatever the size of the firm.

But to achieve this level of quality across departments and locations demands something else - a real commitment to building strong values and a culture that staff really buy into. In their different ways our three nominees this year illustrate how to do that.

BKL: BKL draws 40% of its fee income from clients who have been with the firm for more than 10 years and enjoys equally good retention rates among its staff. A nominee in this category last year, BKL is not resting on its laurels. Outsourcing IT has worked well for the firm and allowed it to focus on its core service for entrepreneurs. The ever-growing client base has increased the range of services BKL needs to deliver, including litigation support, where it has successfully challenged HMRC. On several occasions.

RDP Newmans: RDP Newmans has achieved growth and success by empowering employees to push beyond their comfort zones. Along with steady and sustainable growth, and overall process improvements, the firm is expanding into new niche markets such as property management and charities. This firm clearly cares about its staff and culture and looks to continue improving through regular surveys.

Lubbock Fine: Operating out of state-of-the-art offices in St Paul’s, London, Lubbock Fine is extending its personal, bespoke accountancy services into the European audit market. The firm has an array of process improvements and standardised IT systems in place, all of which are directed by client need. This firm can genuinely drill down to individual clients and show how it helped them. Lubbock Fine has firmly established itself as a challenger brand and attracts significant new business from its website.

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