Northern FD Awards launched to recognise outstanding finance leaders in Yorkshire

The Northern Finance Director Awards are back for 2023. Nominations are now open, recognising and celebrating the exceptional talent of finance leaders and their teams across the North of England.

2023 brought new challenges to business leaders as they continued to grapple with supply chain issues and talent shortages. From rising inflation and multiple budgets announced, 2022 had it all.

The awards will once again recognise the enterprise, leadership, resilience, social impact and all-round excellence of the financial directors, chief financial officers, and financial teams in Northern businesses across 14 different categories.

The awards are open to finance directors (or equivalent) 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 October during the awards ceremony.

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 Northern Subsidiary of a Global Company 
  • Best Northern Finance Director of a Family-Owned Company 

Outstanding Achievement Awards

  • Northern Finance Director of the Year 2023 – Growth/Scale Up
  • Northern Finance Director of the Year 2023 – Leadership
  • Northern Finance Director of the Year 2023 – One to Watch
  • Northern Finance Director of the Year 2023 – Turn Around
  • Northern Finance Director of the Year 2023 – Deal of the Year
  • Northern Finance Team of the Year 2023

Celebrating Excellence

  • ESG/DEI Champion 2023

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. New to the awards this year and joining the sponsorship trio are Barclays Corporate Banking.

Nominations can be submitted via http://www.northernfdawards.co.uk/

Debbie Mullen, Head of Mid Corporate North, at Barclays Corporate Banking said: “We are delighted to be involved in these awards to celebrate some of the talent that we have in the region. We know that the North of England is home to some brilliant FDs who help steer companies through a multitude of challenges and these awards are a real opportunity to showcase all that they, and the North, has to offer.”

Emma Davies, partner at Grant Thornton in Yorkshire said: “Over the last year, we have seen unprecedented market volatility and uncertainty, with finance directors in many sectors of our economy being constantly challenged to be more efficient, agile and enterprising. 

“As a business community, it’s important we come together to celebrate the vital contribution finance directors and chief financial officers are making to Yorkshire, and I can’t wait to share some of the inspiring success stories these awards will uncover.”

Hannah Kendrick, corporate partner, Leeds at law firm Squire Patton Boggs said: “We are delighted to once again be a headline sponsor of the Northern Finance Director Awards.

“This has been a staple awards program in the finance community for many years now, and continues to gain momentum across the North, attracting a whole spectrum of businesses and finance leaders which together ably demonstrate the diversity within the business community for the region.

“We are always inspired to hear how a variety of businesses have navigated a turbulent period whether it be through restructuring, growth, or innovation. Moreover, we intend to create a platform for finance professionals and their teams to receive the rightful recognition they deserve for their contributions to these successes. We are excited to celebrate the finance leaders of the North.

“The addition of our new ESG Champion award in 2022 gave us a different lens through which to view the businesses and their finance teams and we are pleased to have the opportunity to focus again on this hugely important area across all sectors.”

John Halton, associate partner, Page Executive said: “Once again we are proud to be involved with these awards and to get to recognise the fantastic finance leadership talent we have in the North. We have seen some unique and trying times in the market since we announced the winners last year, and so it will be particularly interesting to see how FD’s/CFO’s have adapted and helped move their businesses forward against this economic backdrop.

“We look forward to learning how they have risen to the challenges put before them and hearing the stories that never fail to impress.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close