Xero Partner Awards US 2025: How to enter
Here’s what you need to know to submit a nomination for a Xero Award. Nominations are open May 13th until June 30, 2025.
Award categories
The following categories are open for entry in this year’s Xero Partner Awards for the US. Under each award name, you’ll find full entry criteria, the questions you need to answer, and a link to submit your entry. Feel free to use this information to draft your nomination with your team before submitting your entry. Contest begins on or about 9:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, and all entries must be received on or before 11:59:59 p.m. ET on Monday, June 30, 2025. Rules apply.
Here are the seven categories in this year’s Xero Awards.
Good luck!
We look forward to receiving your entry!
Any questions?
If you have any questions please contact us at xeroconnect@xero.com.
Awards criteria
Small Firm of the Year
The Small Firm of the Year Award celebrates an exceptional accounting or bookkeeping practice that has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to client success, innovation, and professional excellence despite its compact size. This category is for US-based Xero partners that have no more than four employees.
Eligibility requirements
- Must be a Xero partner
- Your firm must have no more than four full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). This includes the firm owner, as well as any outsourced employees if they are part of a stable team
- Your practice must be based in the US
- The award is based on achievements made in the 12 months between the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025
- Your firm can only be nominated in one of the following award categories: Small Firm of the Year, Mid-Size Firm of the Year, Large Firm of the Year, or National Partner of the Year
- Previous winners or nominees are eligible to enter
What we’re looking for
Assessment is based on the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. These are the criteria we’ll use when assessing nominations:
- Xero utilization and expertise: Demonstrates proficient utilization of Xero's features and functionalities to optimize financial management processes
- Client impact and satisfaction: Maintains high levels of client satisfaction, as evidenced by testimonials, feedback and client retention rates. Provides exceptional training and support to clients in utilizing Xero effectively, empowering them to make informed financial decisions and maximize the value of the platform
- Innovation and technology adoption: Shows innovation in leveraging technology and automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy and client service delivery
- Community engagement and thought leadership: Actively participates in the Xero community, contributing to knowledge sharing, collaboration and thought leadership initiatives
Questions you'll need to answer when submitting your nomination:
- Tell us your firm’s ‘Why?’. What’s your vision and purpose? Tell us how you actively thread this through your day-to-day operations and client care.
- Tell us how your firm optimizes the Xero suite of products and features to deliver a best-in-class experience both for your clients, and inside your firm.
- Tell us how your firm champions small businesses and has taken a client-centric approach to consistently deliver exceptional customer service to help them meet their goals.
- How has your practice demonstrated a commitment to maintaining, increasing and sharing Xero knowledge with staff, clients and the wider community?
- How has your firm implemented and adopted technology from the Xero app ecosystem to gain practice efficiencies and boost client service?
Each question has a 300 word limit.
Mid-Size Firm of the Year
The Mid-Size Firm of the Year Award recognizes an exceptional accounting or bookkeeping practice that has masterfully balanced scalable innovation with personalized client service, setting a new standard for professional excellence in the accounting industry.
This category is for US-based Xero partners that have between 5 and 15 employees.
Eligibility requirements
- Must be a Xero partner
- Your firm must have 5 to 15 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). This includes the firm owner, as well as any outsourced employees if they are part of a stable team
- Your practice must be based in the US
- The award is based on achievements made in the 12 months between the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025
- Your firm can only be nominated in one of the following award categories: Small Firm of the Year, Mid-Size Firm of the Year, Large Firm of the Year, or National Partner of the Year
- Previous winners or nominees are eligible to enter
What we’re looking for
Assessment is based on the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. These are the criteria we’ll use when assessing nominations:
- Xero utilization and expertise: Exhibits deep expertise in using Xero to optimize bookkeeping processes and workflows for clients
- Client impact and satisfaction: Maintains high levels of client satisfaction, as evidenced by testimonials, feedback and client retention rates and provides exceptional training and support to clients in utilizing Xero effectively, empowering them to make informed financial decisions and maximize the value of the platform
- Innovation and efficiency: Shows innovation in implementing efficient bookkeeping practices and leveraging technology to enhance productivity and accuracy
- Community engagement and collaboration: Actively participates in the Xero community, contributing to knowledge sharing, collaboration and thought leadership initiatives
- Client education and empowerment: Provides proactive education and training to clients on utilizing Xero for bookkeeping tasks, empowering them to better manage their finances
Questions you'll need to answer when submitting your nomination:
- Tell us your firm’s ‘Why?’. What’s your vision and purpose? Tell us how you actively thread this through your day-to-day operations and client care?
- Tell us how your firm optimizes the Xero suite of products and features to deliver a best-in-class experience both for your clients, and inside your firm
- Tell us how your firm champions small businesses and has taken a client-centric approach to consistently deliver exceptional customer service to help them meet their goals
- How has your practice demonstrated a commitment to maintaining, increasing and sharing Xero knowledge with staff, clients and the wider community?
- How has your firm implemented and adopted technology from the Xero app ecosystem to gain practice efficiencies and boost client service?
Each question has a 300 word limit.
Large Firm of the Year
The Large Firm of the Year Award celebrates an exceptional accounting or bookkeeping organization that has redefined professional services through groundbreaking innovation, strategic vision, and unparalleled client impact.
This category is for US-based Xero partners that have more than 16 employees.
Eligibility requirements
- Must be a Xero partner
- Your firm must have 16 or more employees
- Your practice must be based in the US
- The award is based on practice accomplishments made in the 12 months between the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025
- Your firm can only be nominated in one of the following award categories: Small Firm of the Year, Mid-Size Firm of the Year, Large Firm of the Year, or National Partner of the Year
- Previous winners or nominees are eligible to enter
What we’re looking for
Assessment is based on the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. These are the criteria we’ll use when assessing nominations:
- Xero utilization and expertise: Demonstrates advances proficiency of Xero’s platform to address complex needs of clients
- Client impact and strategic guidance: How you made a significant, positive impact on clients through strategic financial planning, advisory services, and innovative solutions
- Innovation and technology adoption: Shows innovation in leveraging technology and automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability in serving clients
- Thought leadership and industry influence: Influences and shapes the future of accounting by advocating for best practices, innovation, and industry advancement within the accounting community
- Client satisfaction and retention: Demonstrates a commitment to building strong client relationships, providing exceptional service, and exceeding client expectations in the accounting context
Questions you'll need to answer when submitting your nomination:
- Tell us your firm’s ‘Why?’. What’s your vision and purpose? Tell us how you actively thread this through your day-to-day operations and client care?
- Tell us how your firm optimizes the Xero suite of products and features to deliver a best-in-class experience both for your clients, and inside your firm.
- Tell us how your firm champions small businesses and has taken a client-centric approach to consistently deliver exceptional customer service to help them meet their goals.
- How has your practice demonstrated a commitment to maintaining, increasing and sharing Xero knowledge with staff, clients and the wider community?
- How has your firm implemented and adopted technology from the Xero app ecosystem to gain practice efficiencies and boost client service?
Each question has a 300 word limit.
National Partner of the Year
The National Partner of the Year award recognizes exceptional Xero national-level partners who have demonstrated unparalleled expertise, innovation, and dedication in leveraging Xero’s platform to serve clients. The recipient of this award recognizes national partners who have excelled in delivering comprehensive solutions, driving transformation, and providing strategic guidance to your clients. This award will honor the practice who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and client service in their industry.
Eligibility requirements
- Must be a Xero partner
- Award is open to Xero US gold partners or above
- The Xero partner must have a national/key account relationship with Xero
- Your practice must be based in the US
- The award is based on practice accomplishments made in the 12 months between the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
- Previous winners or nominees are eligible to enter
What we’re looking for
Assessment is based on the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. These are the criteria we’ll use when assessing nominations:
- Xero utilization and expertise: Demonstrates advances proficiency of Xero’s platform to address complex needs of clients
- Client impact and strategic guidance: How you made a significant, positive impact on clients through strategic financial planning, advisory services, and innovative solutions
- Innovation and technology adoption: Shows innovation in leveraging technology and automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability in serving clients
- Thought leadership and industry influence: Influences and shapes the future of accounting by advocating for best practices, innovation, and industry advancement within the accounting community
- Client satisfaction and retention: Demonstrates a commitment to building strong client relationships, providing exceptional service, and exceeding client expectations in the accounting context
Questions you'll need to answer when submitting your nomination:
- How do you make the most of Xero’s platform to address the complex needs and requirements of your clients?
- Can you share specific examples of how your strategic guidance and innovative solutions have driven business transformation and achieved measurable outcomes for your clients?
- How do you stay updated on new features and updates released by Xero, and how do you incorporate them across your offices/practice on a national level?
- Can you provide examples of innovative approaches or technologies you've implemented to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability in serving clients?
- What steps do you take to build and maintain strong client relationships with clients?
Each question has a 300 word limit.
Advisory Innovator of the Year
We’re looking for a Xero partner who has demonstrated innovation in their business over the past twelve months as it pertains to building out their advisory practice. Show us your cutting-edge innovations and how your organization has led change within the practice and your client base.
Eligibility requirements
- Must be a Xero partner
- Award is open to US partners of any practice size and partner status; your practice must be based in the US
- Program or initiative must have been completed between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025, or if ongoing, results from the same period to be shown
- Previous winners or nominees are eligible to enter
What we’re looking for
Assessment is based on the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. These are the criteria we’ll use when assessing nominations:
- Xero utilization and expertise: Demonstrates advances proficiency of Xero’s platform to address complex client needs
- Client impact and strategic guidance: Makes a significant, positive impact on clients through strategic financial planning, advisory services, and innovative solutions
- Innovation and technology adoption: Shows innovation in leveraging technology and automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability in serving clients
- Thought leadership and industry influence: Influences and shapes the future of accounting by advocating for best practices, innovation, and industry advancement within the accounting community
- Client satisfaction and retention: Demonstrates a commitment to building strong client relationships, providing exceptional service, and exceeding client expectations in the accounting context
Questions you'll need to answer when submitting your nomination:
- What led you to come up with this innovative process or initiative around advisory?
- How did you go about implementing this new model or change? What challenges did you overcome along the way?
- How did this innovation better your business and/or that of your clients? What were the results?
- What do you think other businesses could learn from your strategy, approach and implementation?
Each question has a 300 word limit.
Community Champion of the Year
We want to shine a spotlight on Xero partners who have gone above and beyond outside of the office. While you are clearly great advisors on the day-to-day, you also give back to your community. This award is open to US partners of any practice size and partner status.
We’re looking for partners who have made a positive impact to a cause or to the life of an individual or group of people outside of routine business activities. Whether that’s addressing a socio-economic challenge, improving social inclusion, making impactful environmental or sustainability improvements, or something else, we want to hear from you.
Eligibility requirements
- Must be a Xero partner
- Award is open to US partners of any practice size and partner status; your practice must be based in the US
- Program or initiative must have been completed between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025, or if ongoing, results from the same period to be shown
- Previous winners or nominees are eligible to enter.
What we’re looking for
Assessment is based on the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. These are the criteria we’ll use when assessing nominations:
Questions you'll need to answer when submitting your nomination:
- Why did you choose to support this person, group of people or cause?
- How have you or your firm supported this cause over the last 12 months?
- What positive impact and difference have you and your practice made as a result?
- How will you continue, grow and/or expand this support moving forward?
Each question has a 300-word limit.
Rising Star of the Year
The Rising Star of the Year Award celebrates an exceptional new talent in the accounting/bookkeeping profession, who is a Xero advocate, and one to watch to become a future leader in the industry. This award recognizes an individual who has been working in practice for less than five years and has demonstrated remarkable progress in their career between the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
Whether you or your nominee have taken on new responsibilities, driven key projects, or demonstrated an unwavering passion for technology and client service, the Rising Star is someone who has made a significant impact, has shown ambitious commitment to professional development, and whose talent and dedication has already set them apart from peers.
Eligibility requirements
- Your firm must be based in the US
- Your firm must be a Xero partner
- You must be a Xero user within your firm
- This award is open to individuals who’ve been in the industry for less than five years as of the end of the 2024 calendar year
- Previous winners or nominees are eligible to enter
Questions you'll need to answer when submitting your nomination:
- What month/year did you/your nominee first start working within the accounting industry?
- Tell us about your/their career to date
- What is your/their great achievement in 2024-2025 that exemplifies why you/they could be considered a rising star?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?/ Where do you think this individual will be in five years?
Each question has a 300 word limit.
Short form rules
Contest open only to legal residents of 50 US/DC, 18 years of age and older. Must be either an accounting or bookkeeping practice or firm that held a partner or business edition subscription between 4/1/24 to 3/31/25. Void where prohibited by law. Contest entry period begins 9:00 a.m. ET on 5/13/25 and ends 11:59:59 p.m. ET on 6/30/25. Judging period starts 7/8/25 and 7/31/25. Subject to full Official Rules, including how to enter, prizes, judging criteria, and all details, click here. Sponsor: Xero, Inc., 1615 Platte Street Denver, CO 80202.