Finance heroes saluted!

The sell-out audience attended the North West Finance Awards, supported by Lancashire Business View, at Ewood Park, Blackburn.

More than 80 nominees shared the 12 prizes– and they came from all levels of the business of finance, from purchase ledger and credit roles through to financial controller and finance director.

Lancashire-based firms fared well, taking five of the awards.

Winners:

Outstanding Business of the Year: The WEC Group, Darwen
Credit Team of the Year Award: Crown Paints, Darwen
Finance director of the year: Kathryn Hill, Crown Paints, Darwen
Young Finance Director of the Year: Martin Smith, Promethean, Blackburn
Assistant Accountant of the Year: Kirsty Johnson, Submarine Manufacturing, Preston
Credit Star: Gaynor Whittaker, Speedy Hire, Newton-le-Willows
Purchase Ledger Star: Julie Mortimer, GAP 
Management Accountant of the Year: Pam Murray, Enesco, Carlisle
Financial Controller of the Year: Darren Rose, DW Sports, Wigan
Financial Accountant of the Year: Chris Lowe, Viridor Laing, Manchester
Contribution to Payroll: Parasol Group, Warrington 
Purchase Ledger Team of the Year: M&S Business Services

Organiser Steve Crohill said: “The event was tremendously well attended, which supports our ethos of recognising that every individual within a finance team is crucial to the overall success of the department and ultimately the business.

“People at all levels in a business are pivotal to its success and often in the finance and accounting functions there are many unsung heroes.”