Lancaster accountants recognised as top employer by Financial Times

A Lancaster firm has received two separate major national plaudits for their dedication as a top UK employer and contracting accountancy.

Located at Lancaster Business Park, off Caton Road, ICS Accounting specialise in providing comprehensive accountancy solutions for every size of business, from self-employed freelancers and contractors up to Public Limited Companies. Established in 2002, referrals and positive word of mouth have seen them grow into established industry experts.

This has now been topped with prestigious industry acclamation, being placed in the top 25 of the Financial Times’ top 500 UK’s Best Employers, alongside household names such as Rolls Royce, GlaxoSmithKline and IBM. Over 3,000 businesses and 20,000 employees were surveyed, giving their opinions on areas including working conditions, salary, support, and potential for development.

Ratings from both internal office staff and ICS Umbrella Employees (where ICS Accounting coordinate salary, tax and statutory contributions for contractors working on projects or for multiple employers) saw the Lancaster firm come in the top 25, ahead of blue-chip companies including BMW, Bentley, Microsoft, and renowned employers Timpsons.

“We are incredibly proud to place so highly in such a prestigious ranking,” said Colin Thompson, ICS Accounting Commercial Director.

“The list is a veritable Who’s Who of the UK’s top employers, so to be see our name so high in the ranking is a testament to the culture and working environment we strive to create for all our employees, as well as contributing to the local economy and charities. Being the only employer from the Umbrella Contractor sector in the whole list was an additional source of delight.”

Still taking this in, staff learned they have also reached the finals of the national Contracting Awards, in an unprecedented three categories: Best Umbrella Company, Customer Service, and Best Contractor Accountancy. While the team face more strict judging criteria before finding out their fate at November’s glittering award’s night at London’s Park Lane Hilton, it’s business as usual for their client and employee welfare-based approach.

"Being nominated for three awards is a powerful affirmation of our unwavering commitment to ICS’s core values: trust, care and compliance” added Colin. “Testament to the exceptional work of our team, it underscores our dedication to providing supportive, peace-of-mind service. I’m incredibly proud and excited about these achievements, and we’ve got our fingers crossed for bringing more recognition to our home town this autumn!”