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Academic of the Year

The development of the next generation of accountants is fundamental to the growth of the legal profession — and academics have a major responsibility for cultivating this talent. This award recognises the academic who is most effectively shaping accounting and commerce undergraduates, instilling a passion for the profession, professional excellence and expertise.

Accounting Consultant of the Year

In an increasingly complex tax and legislative environment, consultants are an important part of advising on transactions, compliance and business performance. This award recognises the consultant who has exceeded expectations in their dedication and performance for clients on complex business matters. It considers the strategies and actions of the consultant in terms of supporting, attracting and retaining clients.

Accounting Student of the Year

Being keen to learn, develop and improve at the outset of a career in the accounting profession is fundamental to long-term success and career potential. This award recognises the university student who demonstrated the most outstanding commitment to success in a future career in the accounting profession in the 2025 calendar year. It considers the activities, strategies and actions of the student in terms of positioning themselves for future success.

Accounting Support Staff of the Year

Support staff are often the backbone of a practice and play a significant part in keeping businesses running smoothly and effectively. This award recognises a person who is vital to supporting an accounting firm's operations and service lines by demonstrating outstanding commitment to their firm, clients and its ongoing success. It considers the activities and actions of the support staff employee, in terms of how they assist business operations and drive success.

Auditor of the Year

The audit function has been among the most impacted by technological advancement, but the management, instinct and experience of an auditor remain vital to ensuring compliance and integrity. This award recognises an outstanding auditor in the accounting profession, who has effectively driven revenue growth and shaped their firm's success in the 2025 calendar year. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the auditor in terms of driving increased revenue and efficiencies.

Bookkeeper of the Year

A successful bookkeeper in the contemporary accounting environment responds to market challenges with innovation and continues to prove the benefits of bookkeepers from a bottom line and growth perspective. This award recognises an outstanding Australian bookkeeper who effectively serviced clients and drove revenue growth for their firm in the 2025 calendar year. It considers the activities, strategies and actions of the bookkeeper in terms of benefiting their firm and promoting the value of the bookkeeping profession in general.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Year

The initiative and leadership of a chief financial officer (CFO) are crucial to the success and effective management of a business. This award recognises the CFO who has demonstrated excellence and innovation in shaping the performance of their business. It considers the strategies, actions and methodologies of the CFO in driving business management and performance.

Corporate Accountant of the Year

Corporate accountants are vital to ensuring an organisation's compliance, budgeting and business forecasting. Corporate accountants are among the most trusted business personnel, and vital to its efficient functioning. This award recognises the corporate accountant who went beyond the basics of management to keep their business's compliance and financial targets on track while remaining true to the needs and expectations of its people and leaders. This award considers the strategies and management techniques used by the corporate accountant in delivering on their financial roles within the bounds of a company's culture and performance targets.

Indigenous Accountant of the Year

This award recognises an accountant of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage who has demonstrated excellence in their industry and supported Indigenous communities.

Mentor of the Year

The mentorship of emerging talent has a long history in the profession and offers the opportunity for experienced operators to impart their experience and knowledge to their peers. To be considered for this award, applicants will need to showcase their specific involvement in programs and initiatives over the 2025 calendar year and how this has led to the development and retention of talent in the profession.

New Partner of the Year

Securing new partners who are committed to the growth and development of the firm is an objective of all firms in the Australian accounting profession, and is no easy feat in a competitive market. This award recognises an outstanding new partner in the accounting profession, who most effectively drove revenue growth and shaped their firm's success in the 2025 calendar year. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the partner in terms of driving increased revenue and efficiencies within their firm or business units.

Not-for-profit Accountant of the Year

Not-for-profit (NFP) accountants are specialists who work with charities and not-for-profit entities and deal with the specific accounting standards, tax

Partner of the Year

Partners who drive growth and progress in large firms often successfully negotiate the pressures of national and international clients and ensure the long-term success of their firm or division. This award recognises an outstanding partner in the accounting profession, who most effectively drove revenue growth and shaped their firm's success in the 2025 calendar year. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the partner in terms of driving increased revenue and efficiencies within their business units.

Partner of the Year (Boutique Firm)

Partners of boutique firms in the accounting profession are in a unique position to significantly impact bottom-line growth and the firm's market position. This award recognises an outstanding partner in the accounting profession who most effectively drove revenue growth and shaped their firm's success in the 2025 calendar year. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the partner in terms of driving increased revenue and efficiencies within their business/business units.

Property Specialist Accountant of the Year

Accountants are often the first port of call for property investors and are crucial in ensuring portfolios are structured effectively and efficiently. This award recognises an accountant who provides exemplary services to property investors and is highly skilled at keeping clients' portfolios compliant and tax-effective. Based on support services and strategy implementation, this award considers how the accountant structures their approach to drive revenue while ensuring exemplary services to clients.

Public Accountant of the Year

Public accountants service a range of clients and industries and have long been held in high esteem by the small-business community in Australia, as well as the trusted adviser to individuals and families. This award recognises a public accountant who values the tax and compliance services that keep their clients above board and goes beyond these services to work towards the financial and lifestyle goals of their clients. This award values ongoing education and training and looks at the soft skills an accountant uses to attract, retain and best service their client base.

Rising Star of the Year

An increasingly competitive accounting profession calls for professionals who are determined to make their services and work stand out and make a notable difference. This award recognises an outstanding accounting professional in Australia who has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to success in their career in the accounting profession. It considers the activities, strategies and actions of the rising star in terms of positioning themselves for future success.

Superannuation Auditor of the Year

Australians entering the workforce today will have known nothing other than compulsory superannuation savings. A rigid, robust framework for compliance and integrity in the sector is crucial to the stability and growth of the superannuation system, as is a service offering that is scalable and efficient. This award recognises an outstanding superannuation auditor in the accounting profession, who has effectively serviced clients and driven revenue growth and shaped their firm's success in the 2025 calendar year. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the auditor in terms of driving increased revenue and compliance efficiencies.

Superannuation Specialist Accountant of the Year

Now, more than ever, amid a flurry of legislative reform and regulatory change, having a firm grasp of superannuation tax law is imperative for an accountant who specialises in the superannuation sector. This award recognises an accountant who specialises in superannuation advice and is highly adept at guiding clients through the rigour of reform and crucial compliance functions. It considers the professional development, expertise and strategies of the accountant in servicing and keeping their superannuation clients.

Thought Leader of the Year

Thought leaders in the accounting profession champion its growth, development and success by voicing new and challenging ideas. This award recognises an individual within the accounting profession who has shown a committed passion and aptitude for improving the industry. This professional is able to clearly articulate the desired direction of the industry and to draw upon best practice from other relevant industries and markets to champion the growth and development of the sector. The recipient of this award will personify business leadership, and be entrepreneurial and committed to the industry. They will also support the growth of new industry entrants as well as the delivery of training, education and mentoring.

Young Accountant of the Year (30 years or under)

A dedicated and talented new generation is key to ensuring the ongoing success of the Australian accounting profession. This award recognises the most outstanding young accountant in the industry, who demonstrated an exemplary commitment to success in their accounting career in the 2025 calendar year. It considers the activities, strategies and actions of the young accountant in terms of positioning themselves for future success.

Bookkeeping Firm of the Year

As digital disruption and automation continue to play out in the accounting profession, successful bookkeeping firms are those that can rise above and continue to capitalise on the business opportunities associated with their vital services. This award recognises the bookkeeping firm that most effectively drove business growth during the 2025 calendar year, utilising a range of business development principles and tactics. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the firm in terms of driving increased revenue and efficiencies.

Boutique Firm of the Year (20 employees or more)

Boutique firms play an important role in servicing their local communities and are increasingly using their small-firm appeal to secure and diversify their client base. This award recognises the boutique firm in the accounting profession that most effectively drove business growth during the 2025 calendar year, utilising a range of business development principles and tactics. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the firm in terms of driving increased revenue and efficiencies.

Boutique Firm of the Year (less than 20 employees)

Business Advisory Firm of the Year

Business advisory is a growing service offering in the accounting community, as accounting professionals increasingly prove themselves to be the preferred advisers for Australian small businesses in particular. This award recognises the firm in the accounting profession that most effectively drove growth in its business advisory unit during the 2025 calendar year, utilising a range of business development principles and tactics. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the firm in terms of driving increased revenue and efficiencies.

Diversity and Inclusion Program/Initiative of the Year

A diverse and inclusive workforce is a vital part of being a progressive, innovative accounting firm in Australia. This award recognises the firm that has gone above and beyond to prioritise and fast-track a diverse, inclusive and collaborative workplace to both champion equality and meet a broad range of client needs and expectations. The award examines the philosophy, strategies and success metrics the firm uses to effectively integrate diversity into its workforce and management structures.

Fast-growing Firm of the Year

Achieving notable growth in a crowded marketplace, particularly given tough market conditions, has been a unique success story in the Australian accounting profession in recent years. This award recognises the firm in the accounting profession in Australia that demonstrated the most effective business growth during the 2025 calendar year, considering both organic and/or acquisitional growth strategies. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the firm in terms of driving increased revenue and efficiencies.

Firm of the Year

Executing and sustaining a growth strategy in a marketplace of tough nationwide competitors are among the great challenges, and successes, of many firms in the Australian accounting profession. This award recognises the firm in the accounting profession with less than $1 billion in total revenue that most effectively drove business growth during the 2025 calendar year, utilising a range of business development principles and tactics. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the firm in terms of driving increased revenue and efficiencies.

Innovator of the Year

Innovative businesses, at a time of intense disruption and evolution, are capitalising on the ever-growing opportunities in the accounting profession and securing their success as long-term players. This award recognises the most innovative business in the accounting profession in Australia, acknowledging the business that best developed and capitalised on innovation during the 2025 calendar year. All relevant types of innovation will be considered – whether related to service, business development processes, technology, staff/client management or any other area.

Marketing Program of the Year

Although not the traditional domain of accounting businesses, firms and networks are increasingly recognising the bottom-line benefits of having an effective and strategic marketing program. This award recognises the business in the accounting profession in Australia that best utilised marketing to win new clients and drive business growth during the 2025 calendar year. Based on marketing activities and strategies, the award considers how the business has used marketing to sign new clients and drive increased revenue.

Multiservice Firm of the Year

Firms in the Australian accounting profession are increasingly recognising the benefits of diversified service offerings in terms of securing long-term clients and futureproofing their business. This award recognises the firm in the accounting profession in Australia that most effectively diversified its service offering to increase total revenue in the 2025 calendar year. Specifically, the award recognises firms offering services complementary to accounting, such as risk advice, mortgage and finance broking, financial planning, SMSF advice and legal services. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the firm in terms of driving increased revenue through diversification within the business.

Network of the Year

Joining the right accounting network can transform the way a firm meets its growth targets and its clients' needs, without sacrificing its individuality or local flair. This award recognises the accounting network that works to give growth opportunities to its associated firms and is focused on enabling quality client services. This award looks at the resources, services and support systems the accounting network provides its associated firms.

Regional/Suburban Firm of the Year

Regional and suburban firms play a vital role for clients that are often overlooked by the big end of town. This award recognises outstanding performance by an accounting firm operating in regional, remote or suburban Australia.

SMSF Firm of the Year

The growth of the SMSF sector and the increasingly complex rules and regulations that govern the sector have fuelled the rise of a profession dedicated to the provision of SMSF advice, and as a result, businesses with specialist SMSF focuses have become common nationwide. This award recognises the firm with a distinct SMSF focus, with staff and services dedicated to the provision of SMSF advice. Specifically, alongside business metrics, it looks at how the firm has actively sought growth for its SMSF offerings and how it is ensuring that its clientele is receiving comprehensive, accurate and timely SMSF advice.

Start-up Firm of the Year

The Australian accounting profession is ripe for start-ups and entrepreneurs right now, particularly given the new technological tools unique to this generation of accounting professionals. This award recognises the start-up firm in the accounting profession that demonstrated the most effective business growth during the 2025 calendar year. Based on business growth metrics as well as support and servicing, the award considers the activities, strategies and actions of the firm in terms of driving increased revenue and efficiencies.

Best Wellness Program/Initiative of the Year

This award recognises an accounting or bookkeeping firm in Australia that has actively advocated health and wellness initiatives, events and/or activities among their peers and the community at large.

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Thank you for your interest in Australian Accounting Awards 2026.

Please find the attached category descriptions.

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Australian Accounting Awards Team

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