The former managing partner of Deloitte, Margaret Ewing was awarded a CBE for services to finance. She is currently non-executive director for ITV, BA owner IAG and Convatec, and a frequent guest speaker.

At just 27, chartered accountant Ewing became Kidsons’ youngest, and first, female partner in the late 1970s. She later joined Touche Ross (now Deloitte) and after 15 months in the business she became a partner. Between 1987-1999, she was a corporate finance partner at Deloitte, and later returned to the firm after a spell in business, rejoining in 2007 as a vice chair and later as managing partner, before retiring in 2012.

Another accountant honoured with one of the highest awards was recently retired director and local government auditor Colette Kane, who received an OBE. Until her retirement last week, Kane was director of audit at the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) where she spent over 31 years in the job, holding the position from 1994 to 2025.

Posting to LinkedIn, Kane said: ‘I am truly delighted to receive this award which, whilst awarded to me, I consider recognition for the valuable work carried out by the (NIAO).’

Comptroller and auditor general at (NIAO) Dorinnia Carville said: ‘Throughout her career, Colette has shown outstanding dedication to establishing and promoting the highest standards of accountability across central and local government.’

Also awarded a CBE for his contribution to the financial services industry was Omar Ali, global financial services leader at EY, who has been with firm for over 25 years. Posting on LinkedIn, Ali said: ‘Financial services impact everyone, helping individuals and businesses meet their goals and supporting economic growth. I am proud to have been recognised for my contribution to the industry.’

Ali is also an advisor to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), chairs and is a non-executive director of England and Wales Cricket Board’s finance, audit & risk committee.

Honorary member of the Chartered Institute for Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA), professor Tony Travers, was given a CBE for public service. He is currently professor in practice and associate dean at the LSE School of Public Policy.

Between 1992 and 1997, Travers was a member of the Audit Commission before it was later disbanded, and between 1999 to 2004 he was senior associate at the health think tank, King’s Fund. His key research interests include local and regional government, elections and public service reform.

CIPFA president Sir Mark Lowcock, said: ‘Tony has made an outstanding contribution to public service through his work on public policy, particularly local government and public finance. For many years, Tony’s research, commentary and engagement have helped to inform debate and strengthen understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing councils and the public services more broadly. 

‘With local government currently under unprecedented strain, his insights are more valuable than ever. We are proud to count him as an honorary member of CIPFA and delighted to see his long-standing commitment to public service recognised in the New Year Honours.’

Former executive manager at PwC, Robert Razzell was awarded an OBE for services to public finance and defence. The former PwC trainee, Razzell qualified as an accountant at the Big Four firm, before he moved into the public sector, spending more than six years at the Olympic Delivery Authority from 2008 to 2015, latterly as head of finance. He was CFO of UK Government Investments Ltd (UKGI) for nearly a decade spanning the pandemic, until he became director of finance at the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal in 2025.

Many leaders in the financial industry were also awarded including senior independent director of Quilter, Neeta Atkar, who was awarded a CBE for services to small business finance and the British Business Bank.

Atkar, previously given an MBE in 2020, has years of experience in the financial industry, having worked at the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority (FSA), predecessor to the Financial Conduct Authority, before taking on various senior roles at Lloyds Banking Group and TSB Bank, including chief risk officer.

For services to taxpayers, James Lupton, an employment tax specialist at Lloyds Banking Group was awarded an OBE. He is chair of the Taxpayers’ Data Standards Forum, which is an executive forum consisting of employers, pension and payroll providers who represent the main UK trade sectors advising and consulting on operational and policy changes to support HMRC’s roadmap.

A total of seven HMRC staffers were recognised with honours, including chief digital information officer, Daljit Rehal, who is leading the HMRC digital transformation programme including Making Tax Digital expansion. Rehal was awarded a companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) for services to technology and public service.

Posting to LinkedIn Rehal said: ‘I am deeply honoured to be recognised in the King’s New Year Honours list. While this is a personal milestone, it is truly a testament to the incredible collective effort of my colleagues at HMRC.’

Portfolio lead for business management at HMRC, Sebastian McVicker-Orringe, was awarded an MBE for services to tackling offshore tax non-compliance. On LinkedIn he said: ‘I’m delighted to say I’ve been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s - this rounds off an incredible 2025,’ which included passing the bar and his dissertation he describes as ‘an exciting if niche read for those who enjoy the dual complexities of offshore taxation and the rule of law’.

Assistant director of HMRC’s fraud investigation service, Alan Tully, was awarded an OBE for services to law enforcement and combatting fiscal fraud. Over the years he has been involved in investigating and closing down some high profile VAT frauds and spent time working overseas in various tax jurisdictions.

Paula Allerton, HMRC head of apprenticeships was awarded an MBE for services to apprenticeships, and said: ‘I’m incredibly honoured and still a bit in shock to share that I’ve been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for my services to apprenticeships. To receive this recognition, doing work I truly care about, is very special. I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way — colleagues, friends, and my amazing family.’

Also at HMRC there were also MBEs for Maureen Berry, business analyst, for services to inclusion and David Denholm, universal credit programme manager, for services to welfare reform.

Brian Buchan, lately chair of the finance committee at the Story Museum and chair, OXSRAD, was given an MBE for services to charity and to the community in Oxfordshire, an award described as ‘very well deserved’.

High profile names on the New Years Honours including knighthoods and damehoods awards for Idris Elba, Torvill and Dean, Meera Syal and Roy Clarke, writer of Last of the Summer Wine and Open All Hours. There were OBEs for actor Warwick Davies, and one for thriller writer Richard Osman, MBEs for Cynthia Erivo, famed for Wicked, and Bill Bailey for services to entertainment.

In total there were 1,157 people on the King’s Honours List, split more or less evenly between men and women for the first time.

King’s New Year Honours List 2025