Familiar consultancies triumph in latest Client Choice awards
Professional services firm RSM has triumphed once again in the annual Client Choice Awards alongside fellow advisories HLB Man Judd and Accru.
Beaton’s annual Client Choice Awards have rolled around again with a number of last year’s winners returning to the list of top firms for 2024, headed by RSM in the best accounting & consulting services category for companies generating revenues in excess of $200 million.
Other consulting firms backing up on their 2023 awards included HLB Mann Judd, Cathro & Partners, Keogh Consulting, Allan Hall, and MGI Worldwide network member Accru.
In addition to claiming the accounting & consulting gong ahead of fellow finalists BDO and Grant Thornton for the sixth year running, RSM also took home the award for best professional services firm in the $200 million-plus division as well as outright nods for best ESG accounting and best mining, oil & gas sector provider. The firm also featured as a finalist in four other categories, including best CX and most innovative in accounting & consulting.
“Winning the Client Choice Awards for six consecutive years is a remarkable feat and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our talented team,” the firm stated in a celebratory post to LinkedIn. “At RSM, we are committed to continuously raising the bar and setting new standards, and would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our clients for their trust and support as well as our team members for their continued commitment to excellence.”
Meanwhile, HLB Mann Judd bumped last year’s winner KordaMentha from the top spot to take out the $100 million - $200 million revenue accounting & consulting services category, with KordaMentha, McGrathNicol and Nexia also listed as finalists, while Accru, which sits within the country’s top 30 organisations of its kind, backed up its 2023 win in the lower revenue bracket, as well as beating all comers as best CX and most innovative firm.
The win for HLB marks its ninth in the Client Choice Awards’ 20-year history, yet the firm continues to strive for improvement. Australasia chair Tony Fittler said the accolade was the most important and valuable the firm could receive; “The bar continues to rise as the professional services sector recognises the importance of prioritising clients’ experience, and it’s incredibly important to listen and learn where we need to provide value.”
In the specialist categories for boutiques with revenues below $30 million, Allen Hall took home best business advice firm, Cathro & Partners won the best insolvency & restructuring award, and Keogh Consulting was named best management consulting firm – all three of which followed up their 2023 gongs. Beca this year also pipped the likes of Arcadis, Aurecon and Jacobs to win the best built & natural environment consultancy (>$200 million) award.
A common point of pride among recipients is that research consultancy Beaton issues the awards based purely on client feedback, this year tallying more than 16,000 responses. Executive chair George Beaton stated, “Our data shows that competition in the professional services market continues to intensify. Firms who win are those which meet clients’ expectations of more-for-less, earn and maintain their clients’ trust, and best differentiate their client experience.”
