Accountants’ gold medal for Frances Done

FRANCES Done, the chief executive of Manchester’s 2002 Commonwealth Games organising committee, has been awarded the accountancy profession’s top prize.

Ms Done, currently chair of the Youth Justice Board and the former chief executive of Rochdale Council, has been given the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

She said: “I was so surprised to be chosen, because, looking at past winners, they all seemed very high profile and high-flying – the likes of Lord Karan Bilimoria and Teresa Graham.

“But I’m very honoured and proud to be recognised by the Institute. My ACA training taught me to value rigour and clarity of thought and to be fearless in making decisions based on sound evidence. These skills have been invaluable in all my later roles.”

After attending Manchester University, Ms Done trained as a chartered accountant with KPMG before joining Rochdale as the council treasurer. Previously she had served as a Manchester City councillor for 13 years, retiring from political life in 1988.

The award acknowledged Ms Done’s contribution to local government, her work as chief executive of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games, Chair of the Waterways Trust and chair of the Youth Justice Board.

She is married to veteran former BBC broadcaster Jim Hancock.