Professional accolade for Droitwich firm

WORCESTER, U.K. - June 6, 2013 - PRLog -- Partners and employees at Droitwich-based accountancy practice Ballard Dale Syree Watson LLP are celebrating as they have secured the title Accountancy Firm of the Year 2013 in the West Midlands.

The Accountancy Firm of the Year award was bestowed upon Ballards by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). They won the title in the category for practices with no more than 5 partners.

The prestigious ICAEW awards seek to recognise the achievements of its members throughout the West Midlands. Rurally based Ballards are thrilled to win the award, as they fought off stiff competition from similarly structured rivals in and around Birmingham City and some excellent practices throughout the region.

Business development director Steven Jones maintains that the firm’s success is due to a number of factors, but having built strong relationships with its diverse client base has certainly helped.

The five senior partners at the practice, including founder Bill Ballard, pride themselves on investing a high degree of personal contact with both existing and new clients.

Ballards have built up a substantial portfolio of clients from private and public sector organisations. It specialises in providing services to medical practices and other healthcare professionals as well as farming and rural businesses. The firm also acts for a broad spectrum of businesses from emerging technology companies to traditional manufacturers. It also continues to support its ethos of looking after the accountancy needs of local ‘owner managed businesses’ (OMBs).

The personal development and training needs of junior members of staff through a continuing nurturing and mentorship process is also high on the firm’s agenda.

The practice has been successful in attracting fast-track graduates from red brick universities as well as people wishing to attain qualification through vocational training and part-time study.

Based in a rural location Ballards also seem to be appealing to more experienced accountancy professionals that have worked in some of the larger national multi-site practices. Mr Jones believes that maintaining a ‘work-life’ balance is important to people these days as onerous commutes in heavy traffic, adds to a longer working day and less time spent with loved ones.

Mr Jones said:”We are delighted to have been recognised with such a high profile award as ‘Accountancy Firm of the Year’. The competition was very high this year and there were some very good firms in the final. The accountancy sector is changing and I think it is down to our willingness to proactively change and develop that has ultimately led us to being successful.”