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Midlands Finance Awards 2026 Shortlist
Congratulations to all shortlisted individuals and businesses for the 2026 Midlands Finance Awards! The 2026 shortlist is a reflection of the outstanding achievements and dedication of finance professionals and businesses across the Midlands region. If you were not shortlisted for the awards this should not deter you from entering again in 2027.
Thank you to the judges that have taken the time to be involved in this years meetings:
- Guest judges
- ACCA
- RSM
- Aon
- Robert Walters
FINANCE DIRECTOR/CFO OF THE YEAR (OVER £100M TURNOVER)
Awarded to a Finance Director/CFO 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.
- PETER TIERNEY
Sense
- CRAIG WILSON
Inspired Entertainment
- TOM FEENEY
Pallet-Track Limited
- NICK HOPKINS
Wolseley
- NICKY BOWYER
Wabtec
- MATTHEW HASNIP
Hitachi Energy UK&IE
- NAOMI DOBRASZCZYC
Nottingham Community Housing Association
FINANCE DIRECTOR/CFO OF THE YEAR (UP TO £100M TURNOVER)
Awarded to a Finance Director/CFO 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.
- CLARE GATHERCOLE
Leadec
- WINCENT KORDULA
St Matthews Healthcare
- ANDREW COMYN
Nottingham College
- CLARE BUCHANAN
Smiths (Solicitors) LLP
- RICH HANRAHAN
Cambridge & Counties Bank
FINANCE TEAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR (EMERGING)
This award will go to a member of a finance team who has been instrumental in the team’s success over the past 12 months. They will be both a high achiever and committed team player, their dedication in their day-to-day role and infectious positive attitude serving to maintain team performance and boost team morale.
- KIERAN DALLOW
Carpigiani UK Ltd
- JAMES ALLEN
The QHotels Collection
- POURIA ESLAMI
Nottingham Community Housing Associaton
- FIN MACHIN
Wolseley
- GABRIEL HAWKER
Wolseley
FINANCE TEAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR (ESTABLISHED)
This award will go to a member of a finance team who has been instrumental in the team’s success over the past 12 months. They will be both a high achiever and committed team player, their dedication in their day-to-day role and infectious positive attitude serving to maintain team performance and boost team morale.
- SHARON MCCORMACK
Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust Ltd
- MANDY BURKE
Sense
- FRASER ANDERSON
ABP UK
- JATINDER BHAMBRA
M3 Group
- JAMES HARTLE
Compass Group UK&I Healthcare: Medirest
- DANIEL PIGGOT
Aston University
- SARAH DYER
Hitachi Energy UK&IE
HEAD OF/FINANCIAL CONTROLLER OF THE YEAR (OVER £100M TURNOVER)
Awarded to a Head of/Financial Controller with a demonstrable legacy of delivery in financial performance, leadership, management and development. They will have provided examples of strengthening financial control and processes across the organisation, driving continuous improvement and developing a team.
- LARNA ROBERTS
McDonalds
- JULIE BALLANTYNE
The QHotels Collection
- DAVE TRANTER
XPO Logistics
- KELSEY MASTERS
Wolseley
- ALISON LAWRENCE
Wolseley
- SURPREET KAUR
Hitachi Energy UK&IE
- SARAH CARRINGTON
Aston University
HEAD OF/FINANCIAL CONTROLLER OF THE YEAR (UP TO £100M TURNOVER)
Awarded to a Head of/Financial Controller with a demonstrable legacy of delivery in financial performance, leadership, management and development. They will have provided examples of strengthening financial control and processes across the organisation, driving continuous improvement and developing a team.
- MARK WIGHTMAN
Meadow Bay Villages
- MAGGIE BURGESS
Willshee's Waste and Recycling Ltd
- FAISAL KABIR
BRAC Saajan Exchange Ltd
FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (20 PEOPLE OR LESS)
The Finance Team of the year will have demonstrated 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.
- MEADOW BAY VILLAGES
- TNS CATERING MANAGEMENT LIMITED
- CLOSERSTILL MEDIA LIMITED (MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS)
- CLOSERSTILL MEDIA LIMITED (FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING)
- SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE GROUP
- WABTEC
- HITACHI ENERGY UK&IE
- COMPASS GROUP UK&I HEALTHCARE: MEDIREST
- HALFORDS GARAGE SERVICES - GARAGES COMMERCIAL FINANCE
FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (OVER 20 PEOPLE)
The Finance Team of the year will have demonstrated 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.
- SENSE
- LLOYDS CLINICAL LIMITED
- CADENT
- WOLSELEY
- INSPIRED ENTERTAINMENT
- ASTON UNIVERSITY
- XPO LOGISTICS
- THE EXTRACARE CHARITABLE TRUST
FINANCE TRANSFORMATION & CHANGE (OVER £500M TURNOVER)
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 may have been 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.
- LLOYDS CLINICAL
- JLR
- WOLSELEY
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- FLOGAS BRITAIN LTD
- NFU MUTUAL
- SAINT GOBAIN UK & IRELAND
FINANCE TRANSFORMATION & CHANGE (UP TO £500M TURNOVER)
Sponsored by Inspired Entertainment
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 may have been 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.
- MI HUB
- BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT GROUP
- CAMBRIDGE & COUNTIES BANK
- NCH EUROPE
- ASTON UNIVERSITY
- NOTTINGHAM COMMUNITY HOUSING ASSOCIATION
- NEC GROUP
TRANSACTIONAL FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR
This award will go to a Midlands based Transactional Finance Team that has demonstrated excellence in its field. They will 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.
- THE KING'S TRUST
- CLOSERSTILL MEDIA GROUP
- CYNCLY
- WOLSELEY
- THE EXTRACARE CHARITABLE TRUST
- ASTON UNIVERSITY
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (QUALIFIED)
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.
- NICK HOLLAND
Sense
- ARUN ADWANI
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- ROB SATCHWELL
Wolseley
- BETHANY MORRIS
Kraft Heinz
- HARRY VINCENT
Sysco GB
- KIARA HOPKINS
Compass Group UK&I Healthcare: Medirest
- JULIETTE CLARE
Hitachi Energy UK&IE
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (NON/PART QUALIFIED)
Sponsored by Wabtec
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.
- MEGAN RICHARDS
XPO Logistics
- MICHAL WISNIEWSKI
Carpigiani UK Ltd
- CALLUM QUINNEY
The QHotels Collection
- JAY GOODWIN
TNS Catering Management Limited
- FINLEY HEATH
Wolseley
- POPPY BLAKE
XPO Logistics
- JORDAN GLENN
Breedon Group
- DENNIS FUNG
Nottingham Community Housing Association
- JADE WALKER
Hitachi Energy UK&IE
BEST USE OF AI IN FINANCE
Awarded to the busienss who demonstrates best use of AI in finance. The winning business will showcase how they have used AI to solve a specific finance challenge, and the measurable impact has it had on the organisation, finance function or its customers.
- CAMBRIDGE & COUNTIES BANK
- THE QHOTELS COLLECTION
- SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE GROUP
- CYNCLY
- ASTON UNIVERSITY