Winner: KPMG

Our judges found that KPMG's entry for Audit Team of the year was a submission that simply could not be ignored once lined up against the opposition.

Since October 2003 the team, led by partner Richard Bennison, has created £28m worth of new fee income, including client wins with the National Audit Office, Phones 4U, Moorfields NHS Trust, Alliance Boots, Sainsbury Bank and Courtaulds. In one particular success KPMG was chosen after the client had been with another Big Four firm for just one year.

Clients say they find the KPMG team fun to work with, find real teamwork between tax and audit, and that it has a track record in delivering what the firm promises.

Our judges said: 'This was a team with excellent growth achievements, clear signs of innovation and great testimonials from clients. There's a real sense of change going on in the team, with some bold initiatives. An entry that could not be ignored.'

The firm's performance stands out clearly. It audits more publicly listed companies in the UK than any other firm. The firm is dominant on AIM with 181 clients.

Around a fifth of the FTSE 100 takes audits from KPMG, while in total the firm audits 3,630 UK companies.

Last year saw the team launch its Audit Response Team, a special unit designed to mobilise resources at short notice when an extra effort is needed for a particular client. This gives team members experience across a broad range of clients, which has raised the motivation and retention levels within the audit department.

The firm also has in place its own Audit Committee Institute serving the needs of audit committee members.

Last year saw the ACI host debates on the future of financial reporting, seminars on audit and internal audit quality as well as sustainable reporting and corporate governance developments.