Final call for entries to the Northern Finance Director Awards

The deadline to enter the Northern Finance Director Awards, which recognises the important, and often unheralded contribution finance leaders play in businesses across the North West, is fast-approaching with two weeks left to submit nominations.

The awards span across 14 categories and recognise the enterprise, leadership, resilience, social impact and all-round excellence of the financial directors and chief financial officers in Northern businesses over the past 12 months.

New to the 2022 awards roster is the Northern Finance Team of the Year award. This award allows for the entire finance team to be recognised and celebrated for the important contribution they play in businesses.

In addition, a new ESG Champion award has been added to the programme to celebrate those finance leaders who have demonstrated the need for their organisation to conduct themselves responsibly, making a positive contribution to the environment, society and their own governance programme.

The awards are open to finance directors in all industries, whether working for a fast-growing SME or an innovative PLC, as well as for the benefit of the wider region. The shortlists will be announced in July, and the winners announced in September during the awards ceremony.

Submit your nominations by 10th June via this link: http://www.northernfdawards.co.uk/

The categories are:

• Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company up to £25 million
• Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company of £25 million – £100 million
• Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company over £100 million
• Best Northern Finance Director of a Listed Company
• Best Northern Finance Director of a Private Equity-backed Company
• Best Northern Finance Director of a Global Company (HQ in the North (Subsidiary)

Outstanding Achievement Awards

• Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – Growth/Scale Up
• Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – Innovation
• Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – Leadership
• Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – One to Watch
• Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – Turn Around
• Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – Deal of the Year
• Northern Finance Team of the Year 2022

Celebrating Excellence

• ESG Champion 2022

Finalists are invited to attend Zoom/ Microsoft Teams interviews, with the winners then selected by an independent panel of judges.

The awards are once again being sponsored by business advisers Grant Thornton UK LLP, global law firm Squire Patton Boggs and leading recruitment firm Michael Page.

Dave Hillan, partner at Grant Thornton in the North West said: “Amid unprecedented market volatility and uncertainty, finance directors in many sectors of our globally-facing regional economy are being constantly challenged to be more efficient, agile and enterprising. It’s right therefore that we should come together to celebrate the vital contribution finance directors and chief financial officers are making to the North West, and I can’t wait to share some of the inspiring success stories I know these awards will uncover.”

Giles Chesher, corporate partner, Manchester at law firm Squire Patton Boogs said: “As a founding sponsor of the Northern Finance Director awards, we are always excited to announce the return of this campaign for another year.”

“At Squire Patton Boggs we recognise the value that finance directors bring to their businesses, demonstrating leadership, innovation, and commercial nous, and yet they are often the unsung hero of their businesses. By continuing to champion the NFD awards, we intend to shine a light on the achievements of the exceptional finance professionals in the region.”

“We are also excited to announce two new categories this year. Firstly, our Northern Finance Team of the Year category reflects the camaraderie and cooperation that finance teams have demonstrated to achieve their success. Secondly, our ESG Champion intends to recognise those who have gone above and beyond to successfully embrace ESG into their businesses, and are leading the way in environmental, social and governance standards.”

“The addition of the new ESG Champion award is particularly exciting, as this is an area of huge focus across all sectors, and finance leaders so often play a crucial role in the delivery of a business’s ESG strategy.”

John Halton, associate partner, Page Executive said: “It’s a great pleasure have ongoing involvement in these awards and to for the fantastic finance leadership talent to get the recognition it deserves. As we moved from the depths of the pandemic and the problems and also some opportunities that presented, to a post-pandemic economy – finance leaders yet again had to adapt to a new trading environment and pivot their skills, focus and businesses to make sure of, in some cases survival, and in others maximising growth.”

“We look forward once again to learning how they have risen to the challenge and hearing the stories that never fail to impress.”