FDs are ‘the voice of reason’
FINANCE directors should be the “voice of reason” in a business, according to Steve Williams, FD at Warwick Chemicals.
The business is a supplier of additives for washing powder and other cleaning products and was the subject of a management buyout backed by Close Brothers Private Equity in 2008.
The achievements of finance directors will be celebrated at the North West Finance Director of the Year Awards later this year. Entries are still being accepted for the awards which will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester on November 28
Warwick Chemicals, is based in Mostyn, North Wales, has 250 staff and sales of £100m.
“The type of FD you need to be depends on what the business requires you to be,” said Mr Williams who won Best FD of a Private Equity-backed Business at last year’s awards. “I can’t say all FDs will be that strategic player because you might have other challenges.
“To a large extent we have always been key strategic players. You have to have the fundamentals but also the softer skills of working with the stakeholders
“It’s about managing stakeholders’ expectations – the bank, investors, staff or the board. The FD is the voice of reason. You use the data and say ‘the data tells me this, this is what we should do’.
The 2012 awards categories are:
• Best FD of a Limited Company (under £50m turnover)
• Best FD of a Limited Company (over £50m turnover)
• Best FD of a Plc
• Young FD of the Year (up to 40 years of age)
• Best FD of a Private Equity-backed Business
• Best FD of a Public Sector Organisation
• Outstanding achievement award
The awards are also being supported by law firm Squire Sanders, Sewell Recruitment, Barclays and Ernst & Young. The BusinessDesk.com is media partner for the awards in the North West and Yorkshire. For further information on the awards, categories and tickets, visit www.fdawards.co.uk.
