Behind the numbers: and there's more...

Yet even with 27 different awards, they cannot recognise all the areas in which the profession and its people excelled in 2008. So in no particular order - and with a slightly less illustrious and representative judging panel than the main gongs; these decisions fell only to yours truly - I'd like to present a handful of additional awards for 2007.

1) Best use of a blog

Compared to other business fields there is a dearth of decent accountancy blogs out there. However, the best (and best focused) by a distance is that of tax campaigner Richard Murphy. He's embraced the medium to great effect and has carved out a role for himself as the profession's most effective opposition party (taxresearch.org.uk/blog).

2) Best use of virtual gaming

The Tories did well here, creating a Pacman-type game where mini-Gordons chase you around frantically as you try to avoid his '111 stealth taxes'. But the overall prize goes to the Chartered Institute of Taxation for their Second Life avatar Tax Anderton who discusses tax issues for people in an online environment.

3) Best use of email

When Bentley Jennison managing partner Tony Stockdale heard Robson Rhodes was pulling out of its deal with US firm RSM McGladrey and merging with Grant Thornton, he immediately emailed Jean Stephens, head of global accountancy network, RSMI. Stockdale's quick thinking - he emailed from his laptop at Heathrow airport on a Sunday - paid off and the firm secured a berth with the network.

4) Best use of promotional devices

This award goes to Russ and Annie of Logan, Utah. Last month Russ accepted a job with Deloitte, but it appears Russ has been collecting Deloitte material for some time. 'Now we can finally put our Deloitte backpack, umbrella, ruler, mug, water bottles, reading light, folder, notebooks, key chains, fridge magnets, and silly putty to good use,' says Annie.

5) Best use of a sharp tongue

While Jeremy Newman's blog may not be the most frequently updated, he deserves credit for being the only senior partner of a major firm to run one. He has regular pops at the Big Four (at least, the 'prejudice' that exists among their clients). 'Disappointing' was his verdict on the FRC's audit choice paper. Best of all he has sly digs at his peers.

Damian Wild is editor-in-chief of Accountancy Age