Lancaster Accountants recognised in Financial Times’ Top 25 UK employers

By Rob Kelly

21 Aug 2025

ICS office

ICS Accounting has received two separate major national plaudits for their dedication as a top UK employer and contracting accountancy.

Located at Lancaster Business Park, off Caton Road, the business specialise in providing comprehensive accountancy solutions for every size of organisation, from self-employed freelancers and contractors up to Public Limited Companies.

Established in 2002, referrals and positive word of mouth have seen them grow into established industry experts.

ICS Accounting has been named in the top 25 of the Financial Times’ top 500 UK’s Best Employers, alongside household names such as Rolls Royce, GlaxoSmithKline and IBM.

More than 3,000 businesses and 20,000 employees were surveyed, giving their opinions on areas including working conditions, salary, support, and potential for development.

Ratings from both internal office staff and ICS Umbrella Employees (where ICS Accounting coordinate salary, tax and statutory contributions for contractors working on projects or for multiple employers) saw the Lancaster firm come in the top 25, ahead of blue-chip companies including BMW, Bentley, Microsoft, and renowned employers Timpsons.

Colin Thompson, ICS Accounting commercial director, said: “We are incredibly proud to place so highly in such a prestigious ranking.

“The list is a veritable Who’s Who of the UK’s top employers, so to be see our name so high in the ranking is a testament to the culture and working environment we strive to create for all our employees, as well as contributing to the local economy and charities. Being the only employer from the Umbrella Contractor sector in the whole list was an additional source of delight.”

ICS Accounting has also reached the finals of the national Contracting Awards, in three categories: Best Umbrella Company, Customer Service, and Best Contractor Accountancy.

Colin added: "Being nominated for three awards is a powerful affirmation of our unwavering commitment to ICS’s core values: trust, care and compliance.

“Testament to the exceptional work of our team, it underscores our dedication to providing supportive, peace-of-mind service. I’m incredibly proud and excited about these achievements, and we’ve got our fingers crossed for bringing more recognition to our home town this autumn!”

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

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