2022 West Midlands Finance Awards Shortlist
Congratulations to all shortlisted individuals and businesses for the 2022 West Midlands Finance Awards! The 2022 shortlist is a reflection of the outstanding achievements and dedication of finance professionals and businesses across the West Midlands region. If you were not shortlisted for the awards this should not deter you from entering again in 2023.
Thank you to the judges that have taken the time to be involved in this years meetings:
- Guest judges
- ICAEW
- RSM
- Robert Walters
WEST MIDLANDS FINANCE AWARDS 2022 SHORTLIST
FINANCE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (UP TO £100M TURNOVER)
Sponsored by Sciensus
Awarded to the Finance Director with a demonstrable legacy of delivery in financial performance, leadership and management. The winner will have clearly provided examples of where their strategic direction has positively impacted both their team and company.
- BEN HARWOOD
Naismiths
- PETER JAMES
Solid State PLC
- PAUL BIRD
Ampa
- SHARON BAGRI
ReBOUND Returns




FINANCE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (OVER £100M TURNOVER)
Awarded to the Finance Director with a demonstrable legacy of delivery in financial performance, leadership and management. The winner will have clearly provided examples of where their strategic direction has positively impacted both their team and company.
- JOHN SULLIVAN
Reconomy
- CHRIS DAVIES
National Express Group PLC
- STEPHANIE GRADWELL
Halfords
- JAMES MUIRHEAD
RoadChef Motorway Ltd
- NICKY THOMAS
Wolseley
- DAVID BLUNSTONE
2 Sisters Food Group
- RAY REIDY
Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd








FINANCE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (NOT-FOR-PROFIT)
Sponsored by DeterTech
Awarded to the Finance Director from a not-for-profit organisation with a demonstrable legacy of delivery in financial performance, leadership and management. The winner will have clearly provided examples of where their strategic direction has positively impacted both their team and company.
- ANNA MCOWEN
Citizen
- CHRISTOPHER MANNING
Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust
- LEE YALE-HELMS
Birmingham Children's Trust
- SULTAN HUSSAIN
Leonard Cheshire
- CRAIG EDMONDSON
Black Country Living Museum





FINANCIAL CONTROLLER OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the Financial Controller with a demonstrable legacy of delivery in financial performance, leadership, management and development. They will be able to provide examples of strengthening financial control and processes across the organisation, driving continuous improvement and developing a team.
- JAMIE MCNALLY
LCP
- ROSE MARSH
Keys Group
- LUKE TELLIS-JAMES
TTC Group
- ADAM PHILLIPS
National Express Group PLC
- ANGELA EAMES
Dignity plc
- SARAH LANCASTER
2 Sisters Food Group
- MARK FAIRBAIRN
UK Battery Industrialisation Centre Ltd







FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (20 PEOPLE OR LESS)
The Finance Team of the year will demonstrate excellence in their field, with proven examples of collective successes within the last 12 months. The winning team may have positively impacted the wider business through outstanding achievements in the delivery of projects and encompass an infectious team spirit.
- XOSERVE LTD & CORRELA LTD
- NATIONAL EXPRESS GROUP PLC
- TANDEM PROPERTY ASSET MANAGEMENT
- 2 SISTERS FOOD GROUP
Internal Audit Function
- NAISMITHS
- 2 SISTERS FOOD GROUP
Finance Team






FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (OVER 20 PEOPLE)
The Finance Team of the year will demonstrate excellence in their field, with proven examples of collective successes within the last 12 months. The winning team may have positively impacted the wider business through outstanding achievements in the delivery of projects and encompass an infectious team spirit.
- WOLSELEY
- SCIENSUS
- BNP PARIBAS PERSONAL FINANCE
- RAC
- RECONOMY
- GYMSHARK
- HALFORDS
- GOWLING WLG








FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (NOT-FOR-PROFIT)
Sponsored by Naismiths
The Finance Team of the year will be from a not-for-profit organisation and demonstrate excellence in their field, with proven examples of collective successes within the last 12 months. The winning team may have positively impacted the wider company through outstanding achievements in the delivery of projects and encompass an infectious team spirit.
- CITIZEN
- PENDERELS TRUST
- BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME



FINANCE TRANSFORMATION & CHANGE
Sponsored by Gowling WLG
The Finance Transformation & Change award will be presented to a team that has demonstrated the successful delivery and/or implementation of activities leading to the improvement or growth of its organisation. This can be demonstrated through a range of activities with examples including (though not limited to) transformation projects, system upgrades, development of people and their careers and process re-engineering.
- SIGNAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
- CITIZEN
- BNP PARIBAS PERSONAL FINANCE
Finance Insight Team
- LINNAEUS VETERINARY LTD
- SANCTUARY HOUSING ASSOCIATION
- HALFORDS
- XOSERVE LTD & CORRELA LTD







RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (QUALIFIED)
Sponsored by Gateley
Presented to the most passionate, driven and delivery focused person in the market. The winner of the qualified award will be a finance professional with less than 5 years of post-qualified experience. They will have provided examples of high achievement and outperforming their peer group.
- TOM ROSEN
Wolseley
- KATHRYN FINCH (NEE MASON)
2 Sisters Food Group
- NATHANIEL BROWN
Halfords
- HARRIET MCCORMICK
Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd
- TOM LLOYD
Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd
- JOHN MURPHY
Reconomy





RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (NON/PART QUALIFIED)
Sponsored by LCP
Presented to the most passionate, driven and delivery focused person in the market. The winner of the non/part-qualified award will be a finance professional with less than 8 years of experience. They will have provided examples of high achievement and outperforming their peer group.
- LAURA FREEMAN
Selco Builders Warehouse
- DANIEL SHUARD
CHS Healthcare Limited
- JAMES BLANDAMER
Naismiths
- JEMMA YOUNGMAN
BDO LLP
- LAURA ROBINSON
Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd





SHARED SERVICE CENTRE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Tandem Property Asset Management
This award will go to a Shared Service Centre based in the West Midlands and will be measured against the strength of its business processes and people-centric approach. We will be looking for exemplary customer service, coupled with best in class business processes.
- RENTOKIL INITIAL
- LKQ EURO CAR PARTS
- BRITVIC SOFT DRINKS LTD
- MITCHELLS & BUTLERS
- RECONOMY





TRANSACTIONAL FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR
This award will go to a West Midlands based Transactional Finance Team that has demonstrated excellence in its field. They will need to have demonstrated collective successes within the last 12 months. The winning team will have positively impacted the wider business through outstanding achievements in the delivery of projects. The team should also embody a positive team spirit.
- CITIZEN
Transactions Team
- KEYS GROUP
Accounts Receivable Team
- BRITVIC SOFT DRINKS LTD
Credit Team (Order to Cash)
- WOLSELEY
Transactional Support Team
- BNP PARIBAS PERSONAL FINANCE
Finance Operations Function
- LINNAEUS VETERINARY LTD
Transactions Team





