2026 Finance Awards North West Shortlist

Congratulations to all shortlisted individuals and businesses for the 2026 Finance Awards North West! With an exceptionally high quality of talent, only those who scored within the top percentage have been taken through to the final shortlist. The judges would like to commend all of the individuals and businesses listed below on making it through to the final shortlist.

The 2026 shortlist is a reflection of the outstanding achievements and dedication of finance professionals and businesses across the North West 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.

FINANCE AWARDS NORTH WEST 2026 SHORTLIST:

FINANCE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (OVER £100 MILLION TURNOVER)

Awarded to a Finance Director/CFO from a business turning over more than £100m, 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.

SIMON GREENHALGH
Biocomposites
JESSICA ASHCROFT
Holdsworth Foods
NEIL GARNHAM
{my dentist}

STEVEN FRANCOM
Bibliotheca
NEIL OWENS
Bank Of America
NICK SCOTT
Footasylum

FINANCE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (UP TO £100M TURNOVER - Lancashire & Liverpool)

Awarded to a Finance Director/CFO from a business turning up to £100m annually in Lancashire and the Liverpool area. 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.

KIRSTY BRUTON
Harrison Leisure Group

NICOLA WORTHINGTON
Hallis Hudson Group Limited

DAVID GOULDEN
AIR-serv

JONATHAN BISHOP
AM Freshly Squeezed

CATHERINE WATT
GFW Limited

FINANCE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (UP TO £100M TURNOVER - MANCHESTER & CHESHIRE)

Awarded to a Finance Director/CFO from a business turning over up to £100m annually in Manchester & the Cheshire area. 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.

STEVEN HELLIWELL
European Braking Systems Limited
JAMES PUGH
Speedy Freight
ANEEB BANI
Refy Beauty

RICHARD MONAGHAN
Apparel Brands Group
DANIEL HEALEY
Direct Heating Group
MANISH DEV
Key Integrated Services

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER OF THE YEAR (UP TO £100M TURNOVER)

Awarded to the Financial Controller from a business turning up to £100m annually, 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.

RACHEL MILLER
Fulfilment Crowd
KARINA REED
Capsil Group
STEVEN CLARE
Wireless CCTV Limited

ROBERT SEVILLE
World Wide Golf Brands Limited
TOMA ZARECKAITE
Enspec Power Ltd

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER OF THE YEAR (over £100M TURNOVER)

Awarded to the Financial Controller from a business turning over £100m annually, 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.

JAMES BIRCH
Atlas BFW Management
RICHARD WOOLLEY
Hakim Group
ROBIN WRIGHT
Together.

SIMONA STECKYTE
Peel Ports Group
JACK CLARKE
Footasylum

FINANCE BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Awarded to the Finance Business Partner with a demonstrable legacy of delivery in financial performance, management and development whilst adding real commercial value to the business. They will have provided examples of where they have driven improvements, guided decision making & set strategy within their business unit and taken a responsibility for continuous development.

ROBERT ANDREWS
{my dentist}
NABINA COLDRINK
Hakim Group
SOPHIE BUBBINS
Matalan
RACHAEL O'BRIEN
McBride

MUHAMMED MUNSHI
EG On The Move
LANCE ALLISON
{my dentist}
SARAH BIGGERSTAFF
Slater Gordon

FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (OVER 40 PEOPLE)

The Finance Team of the Year (over 40 people) 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.

GBG PLC
TOGETHER.

PEEL PORTS GROUP

OCU GROUP
BANK OF AMERICA
CSL

FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (11-40 PEOPLE)

The Finance Team of the Year (11-40 people) 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.

ON THE BEACH
RIVERSIDE
WIRELESS CCTV LIMITED
BUCKHURST GROUP
CHESNARA

MURPHY
WEX INC
INTACT INSURANCE
MANCHESTER AIRPORT GROUP

FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (10 PEOPLE OR LESS)

The Finance Team of the Year (10 people or less) 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.

VCG TECHNOLOGY
REFY BEAUTY
VERNON BUILDING SOCIETY
PRIMARY CARE 24 LTD
HARRISON LEISURE GROUP

ADD PEOPLE
FLAIR FLOORING SUPPLIES LTD
ORBITAL EDUCATION
G.H.SHELDON WHOLESALE BAKERS LTD

FINANCE TRANSFORMATION & CHANGE (OVER £100M TURNOVER)

The Finance Transformation & Change award will be presented to a team turning over £100m annually, 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.

ON THE BEACH
PEEL PORTS GROUP
JD SPORTS FASHION PLC
MURPHY

CHESNARA
HAKIM GROUP
CULINA GROUP LIMITED

FINANCE TRANSFORMATION & CHANGE (UP TO £100M TURNOVER)

The Finance Transformation & Change award will be presented to a team turning up to £100m annually, 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.

ADD PEOPLE
SPEEDY FREIGHT
AM FRESHLY SQUEEZED
KEY INTEGRATED SERVICES

FINANCE TEAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR (QUALIFIED)

This award will go to a qualified finance team member 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.

NICOLA HEUZE
Zeal Creative Limited
CHRISTINA MUPATI
Riverside
ANDREW GIBBS
Manchester Airport Group

ALEX PURDOM
Bank of America
SAFWAAN PATEL
EG On The Move Ltd

FINANCE TEAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR (NON-QUALIFIED)

This award will go to a non-qualified finance team member 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.

SAMANTHA JOHNSTON
AM Freshly Squeezed
NICKI HARDING
Murphy
JOHN DOTTERS
WS Specialist Logistics

KATIE WOODFORD
Enspec Power
MHAIRI MILLER
Auger
AURELIA PICART
Intact Insurance

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (QUALIFIED)

This is presented to the most passionate, driven and delivery focused qualified finance professional 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.

BEN CHICKEN
Fulfilment Crowd
CHARLOTTE CONCHIE
Speedy Freight
HOLLY FLINN
CAVU (Manchchester Airport Group)
AMY HADJINICOLAOU
{my dentist}
ELLIE GAMBLE
Chesnara

HAMZA UKADIA
EG On The Move Ltd
KATIE HILLIARD
Hakim Group
BRIONY WILKS
Catella APAM
JADIE RENWICK
Bright Blue Foods Limited

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (PART-QUALIFIED)

This is presented to the most passionate, driven and delivery focused part-qualified finance professional in the market. The winner of the part-qualified award will be a finance professional with less than 8 years’ experience and currently studying for a finance qualification. They will have provided examples of high achievement and outperforming their peer group.

JACK BREHENY
Auger
JAKE KIRK
EG On The Move Ltd
ETHAN DEMAR
GBG Plc
ALEXANDER MURRAY
Intact Insurance
LIBBY DAVIES
JD Sports Fashion Plc

ADAM KENYANI
Hip Pop
FIONA DAVIES
Place North
LUCA MORTON
Culina Group Limited
TOM FORSHAW
Murphy

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (NON-QUALIFIED)

This is presented to the most passionate, driven and delivery focused non-qualified finance professional in the market. They will have provided examples of high achievement and outperforming their peer group.

LIAM PRESCOTT
WS Specialist Logistics
MATT O'NEILL
Bank of America
LISA HIGGINS
Hakim Group

Meet the partners

About the Awards

2025 Winners

2026 Finance Awards North West Shortlist

2026 Finance Awards North West Shortlist

FINANCE AWARDS NORTH WEST 2026 SHORTLIST:

Award Partners