MPF Awards for
Management Excellence
2017
Celebrate your firm’s leadership and management
In a rapidly changing environment with evolving client
expectations, leadership and collaborative management are
critical to deliver outstanding client service and exceed
expectations. Partnering with a ‘well-managed’ firm is
essential for clients now and in the future.
What’s in it for your firm…
Now in its 15th year, the MPF Awards provide managementteams with
independent evidence of their contribution to achieving the firms’
objectives in four key business areas:
• Leadership & Strategy
• Operational Excellence
• Client Journey
• Responsible Business
“A valuable opportunity to recognise the significant contribution that
practice management professionals make to professional services
businesses.”
John Connolly, Former Global Managing Director, Deloitte
What’s in it for you…
Influencing the strategy and direction of the firm to enhance
business and client success is consistently top of the agenda
for MPF members. Demonstrating your contribution and
impact puts you at the heart of these conversations, increases
your influence and people’s trust in your strategies, while
strengthening the reputation of your firm to clients.
“MPF Awards recognise the best of the best across professional services firms. Winning an award
from an organisation solely focused on distilling best practice is a great achievement.”
Simon Beswick, Former Managing Partner, Osborne Clark
MPF Awards for Management Excellence – Knowledge partners: Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times
Submissions accepted from 3 October to 30 November – Ceremony 8 March 2017
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Who else is involved…
In collaboration with MPF knowledge partners Harvard
Business Reviewand the Financial Times,firms of all
sizes from across the professions worldwide participate
in the MPF Awards – no firm is too big or too
small!Management excellence is the key.
“The MPF awards are a great opportunity to recognise best practice in the management of
professional services. They are also an opportunity to acknowledge the important contribution of
business services teams and A&L Goodbody is thrilled to have been again recognised in this way.”
Ian White, Director of Strategy & Business Transformation, A&L Goodbody
A night to remember…
The gala dinner and Awards ceremony takes place in London on Wednesday 8 March 2017
with over 400 senior attendees and a celebrity MC. In addition to the open categories, MPF
also presents merit awards for exceptional achievement by a firm, a leadership team and an
individual, and for the best performing legal and accountancy brands.
To find out more about previous Award winners, visit the MPF website.
MPF Awards for Management Excellence – Knowledge partners: Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times
Submissions accepted from 3 October to 30 November – Ceremony 8 March 2017
2
Categories 2017 – Summary
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Leadership & Strategy
Best managed international firm or network – For achieving sustainable superior returns
through effective implementation of a coherent strategy
Best managed national firm or organisation – For achieving sustainable superior returns
through effective implementation of a coherent strategy
Best strategic leadership – For articulating and communicating the firm’s purpose and
priorities
Best thought leadership – For distilling and communicating ideas that confer business
advantage
Best leadership of a mould-breaking firm – For blazing a trail that contributes to market
change
Best programme for leadership development –For recognising leadership gaps and
providing innovative interventions
NEWBest strategy implementation – For delivering the firm’s strategy through inspiring
people to alter their behaviour
Client Journey
NEWBest co-ordination in winning new work – For ensuring frontline and in-house experts
are working together to build lasting client relationships
NEWBest use of narrative – For ensuring key messages resonate with relevant audiences
Most innovative client service – For working with the frontline to enhance service in ways that
are original and valuable to clients
Best provision of know-how to clients – For organising know-how in ways that work for
clients
Best collaboration with clients – For developing, shaping and implementing new or enhanced
services
Operational Excellence
NEWBest corporate culture – For fostering collaborative working, well-being, productivity and
client engagement
NEWMost enviable workplace – For designing office layout and facilities for diverse needs
Best financial management– For involving everyone in the delivery of optimal financial
performance
Best implementation of systems or technology – For creating value through unique
innovations
NEWBest use of data analytics – For bridging the gap between big data and actionable insight
Best collaboration across the management team – For working together to break down silos
and implement the firm’s strategy
NEWBest collaboration with external specialists – For workingeffectively with specialists.
Responsible Business
Best community engagement – For developing a reputation of being great corporate citizens
NEWMost environmentally friendly firm – For addressing resource efficiency, renewables
and climate change
Most inclusive firm – For creating an environment where anyone can feel comfortable and
have a chance to shine
NEWBest philanthropy engagement – For supporting people of wealth on their donor journey
MPF Awards for Management Excellence – Knowledge partners: Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times
Submissions accepted from 3 October to 30 November – Ceremony 8 March 2017
3
Categories 2017 – In detail
Leadership & Strategy
Best managed
international firm or
network
For the leadership team of a firm or network with offices in multiple
countries that demonstrates how a coherent strategy, inclusive
culture, relevant leadership style and effective implementation
have helped the business overcome challenges and achieve
sustainable, superior returns in its chosen markets and sectors.
No additional criteria.
Best managed national
firm or organisation
For the leadership team of a firm or organisation based in a single
country or city that demonstrates how a coherent strategy,
inclusive culture, relevant leadership style and effective
implementation have helped the business overcome challenges
and achieve sustainable, superior returns in its chosen markets
and sectors.No additional criteria.
Best strategic leadership
For the firm whose leadership team has adopted a relevant
leadership style, and articulates and communicates the firm’s
purpose and priorities to engage its people and clients in ways
that clarify expected contribution. No additional criteria.
Best thought leadership
For the firm that has distilled and communicated ideas that confer
business advantage. No additional criteria.
Best leadership of a
mould-breaking firm
For the leadership team whose firm blazes a trail in ways that
contribute to market change. Additional criteria:
 Evidence of how the leader embeds a culture of willingness to
innovate
Best leadership
development programme
For the firm whose leadership development programme
recognises leadership gaps and provides relevant and innovative
interventions. No additional criteria.
NEW Best strategy
implementation
For the leadership team that has inspired people at all levels of
the firm to make the changes in behaviour that are required to
implement the strategy. No additional criteria.
MPF Awards for Management Excellence – Knowledge partners: Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times
Submissions accepted from 3 October to 30 November – Ceremony 8 March 2017
4
Client Journey
NEW Best co-ordination in
winning new work
For the management team that has ensured that its frontline and
in-house experts work together effectively to build lasting client
relationships and winnew work. No additional criteria
NEW Best use of narrative
For the management team that uses consistent narrative and
story telling through multiple channels to ensure that key
messages about the firm and its ethos resonate. Noadditional
criteria.
Most innovative client
service
For the management team that has worked with its frontline to
enhance client service in innovative ways that are original and
valuable to clients. Additional criteria:
 Evidence will be required from clients
Best provision of
know-how to clients
For the management team that has organised firm know-how in
ways that demonstrably engage and support their clients.
Additional criteria
 Evidence will be required from clients
Best collaboration with
clients
For the management team that has organised its frontline and inhouse experts to work effectively with clients to develop, shape
and implementnew or enhanced client services. Additional
criteria:
 Evidence of achievements in which clients were engaged
MPF Awards for Management Excellence – Knowledge partners: Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times
Submissions accepted from 3 October to 30 November – Ceremony 8 March 2017
5
Operational Excellence
NEWBest corporate
culture
For the management team that has developed an employer brand
that supports the firms’ culture, engages teams and individuals in
collaborative working,and fosters well-being, productivity and
client engagement. No additional criteria.
NEWMost enviable
workplace
For the firm whose office layout and facilities are dynamic and
designed with the diverse needs of both colleagues and clients in
mind. No additional criteria.
Best financial
management
For the management team that involves everyone at the firm in
the delivery of optimal financial performance. Additional criteria:
 Accuracy of budgeting and forecasting
 Setting and monitoring financial KPIs
 Helping frontline teams improve pricing, realisation and
profitability
 Working capital management (lock up, cash flow,etc)
Any financial data provided will be treated in the strictest
confidence, is solely for the judges and will not be published
without the firm’s explicit consent.
Best implementation of
systems or technology
For the management team that has created value by introducing
unique innovations when implementing new systems or
technology. Noadditional criteria.
NEWBest use of data
analytics
For the management team that uses analytics to bridge the gap
between big data and actionable insight. Noadditional criteria.
Sponsored by:
AnyDataSolutions
Best collaboration across
the management team
For the management team whose members have worked
effectively together to break down silos in order to develop, shape
and implement the firm’s strategy. Additional criteria:
 Evidence of achievements in which all or most of the team
were engaged
NEW Best collaboration
with external specialists
For the management team whose members have worked
effectively with specialists, including but not exclusively: audit,
banking, consultancy, design, insurance, legal, property,
recruitment, technology and training. Noadditional criteria.
MPF Awards for Management Excellence – Knowledge partners: Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times
Submissions accepted from 3 October to 30 November – Ceremony 8 March 2017
6
Responsible Business
Best community
engagement
For the management team that has developed a reputation for
their firm of being great corporate citizens. No additional criteria.
Sponsored by: Business in the
Community
NEW Most
environmentally friendly
firm
For the management team that has developed effective strategies
for resource efficiency, renewables and climate change.No
additional criteria.
Sponsored by:
Accessprofessions.com
For the management team that has created an environment where
anyone can feel comfortable and has a chance to shine,
regardless of gender, sexuality, race, religion, disability,
personality type or thinking style.Noadditional criteria.
NEWBest philanthropic
engagement
For the firm that supports people of wealth, whether client or
adviser, on their donor journey, thereby increasing the amount
given to good causes. No additional criteria.
Most inclusive firm
Sponsored by: Philanthropy
Impact
MPF Awards for Management Excellence – Knowledge partners: Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times
Submissions accepted from 3 October to 30 November – Ceremony 8 March 2017
7
Preparation for your submission
Useful reading before you start
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Article from Sir Nigel Knowles on why clients notice when a firm is well managed
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Advice from the judges on how to improve your chances of winning an Award
Use this form as a ‘working paper’
All details are entered through a confidential online entry form.
As nothing is saved until the last page of the form, we recommend working offline first.
Use the following pages as a ‘working paper’ and then copy the final version into the online
form which is open from 3 October to 30 November 2016.
MPF membership is not required to enter the Awards. Firms can make unlimited submissions
for a one-off fee of £195.Payment can be made online via the entry form.
Judging criteria
Each submission is judged by a large panel of independent judges against eight criteria:
1. Alignment of the initiative with business goals
2. Active support and appropriate role modelling by the management team
3. Effective communication to stakeholders
4. Positive impact on the client experience
5. Positive impact on the employee experience
6. Positive impact on performance of the firm
7. Measurable impact against the objectives of the initiative within a reasonable timescale
8. (if applicable) External awards and recognition
Plus some categories have additional criteria – see pages 4 to 7
The small print
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The online form allows details to be submitted for ONE category at a time.
Multiple initiatives can be submitted for the same category, either on a consolidated basis or through
multiple use of this form, but only ONE place will be awarded to each firm per category.
The same initiative cannot be entered for more than one category.
Any financial data provided is treated in the strictest confidence, is solely for the judges and will not
be published without the organisation’s consent in writing.
MPF reserves the right to use any non-financial data or other material provided in future promotion of
the MPF Awards.
The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence is entered into concerning the judging of
submissions.
MPF Awards for Management Excellence – Knowledge partners: Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times
Submissions accepted from 3 October to 30 November – Ceremony 8 March 2017
8
For each submission, you will be asked:
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Award category
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Details of the Applicant - name, job title, location
(not required for second and subsequent submissions from the same applicant)
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Details of theFirm- name, sector, footprint, URL
(not required for second and subsequent submissions from the same applicant)
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When the initiative/activity began and key milestones
(max 30 words)
… to provide:
 Short summary of the initiative/activity
This will be used in the Awards promotional material.
This summary should be different for each category entered.
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Detailed description of the initiative/activity
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Why do you believe this to be exceptional?
(max 30 words)
(max 250 words)
(max 100 words)
MPF Awards for Management Excellence – Knowledge partners: Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times
Submissions accepted from 3 October to 30 November – Ceremony 8 March 2017
9
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Full name of the leader who has authorised the submission.
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Name, job role and contact details (phone and email) of the best contact for follow up
purposes.
… to show how the initiative/activity has involved:
 Alignment with business goals
(max 100 words)
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Active support and appropriate role modelling by the management team
(max 100 words)
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Effective communication to stakeholders
(max 100 words)
...and has resulted in:
 Positive impact on the client experience
(max 100 words)
MPF Awards for Management Excellence – Knowledge partners: Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times
Submissions accepted from 3 October to 30 November – Ceremony 8 March 2017
10
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Positive impact on the employee experience
(max 100 words)
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Positive impact on performance of the firm
(max 100 words)
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Measurable impact against the objectives of the initiative within
a reasonable timescale
(max 100 words)

(if applicable) External awards and recognition
... and has met relevant category-specific criteria (see pgs 4 to 7)
(max 100 words each)
Additional material (relevant literature, photos, videos, etc) can be provided to support your
submission.
These can EITHER be sent electronically as PDFs to [email protected] OR in hard-copy
(FOUR copies) to: MPF Awards, Practice Management International, Suite 422, Salisbury
House, London Wall, London EC2M 5QQ, UK
Please clearly mark the material with the category to which it relates.
PMI regrets that additional material cannot be returned.
MPF Awards for Management Excellence – Knowledge partners: Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times
Submissions accepted from 3 October to 30 November – Ceremony 8 March 2017
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