Double honours for Leyland accountants

Leyland-based accountants Haines Watts is celebrating a winning double, with national success for the second successive year.

The firm, which specialises in advising and supporting owner-managed businesses, won auditor of the year in the SME category for a second time at the annual FDs (Finance Directors) Excellence Awards.

The awards recognise the service providers that support Britain's finance community using the results of an annual survey, in which 1,380 FDs and financial decision-makers recorded their opinion.

Andrew Minifie, national managing partner at Haines Watts, said: “It’s great to see Haines Watts win such a prestigious award for the second year in succession. This type of award really matters to us because it’s voted for by business people and not by an academic panel of experts.”

The ceremony was held in Grosvenor Square, London and hosted by Real Business in association with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and supported by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Haines Watts won the award in 2012 and once again beat competition from other UK firms such as Baker Tilly, Crowe Clark Whitehill, Deloitte, RSM Tenon and Saffery Champness. Paul Newsham, partner at Haines Watts, Leyland, added: “Our core client base is owner managed businesses, so to get this endorsement from SME businesses means a great deal to us. We are proud of all of our staff who do an outstanding job for our clients day to day and who have contributed towards us winning this award.”