Finance Awards North West Winners 2026

2026 Finance Awards North West Winners

Professionals and businesses were honoured across 16 award categories at a prestigious awards ceremony on Thursday 4th June 2026 at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester. The awards recognised the outstanding achievements of professionals and businesses, the diversity of talent in the region and future leaders set to innovate and shape the industry. Entertainment came from comedian and North West native, Justin Moorhouse.

Thanks to your generous support, we raised over £4,000 for Cure Usher.

FINANCE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (OVER £100M 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.

WINNER

SIMON GREENHALGH
Biocomposites

FINANCE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (UP £100 MILLION 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.

WINNER

ANEEB BANI
Refy Beauty

HIGHLY COMMENDED

DANIEL HEALEY
Direct Heating Group

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.

WINNER

JONATHAN BISHOP
AM Freshly Squeezed

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.

WINNER

RICHARD WOOLLEY
Hakim group

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.

WINNER

STEVEN CLARE
Wireless CCTV Limited

HIGHLY COMMENDED

RACHEL MILLER
Fulfillment Crowd

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.

WINNER

TOGETHER.

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.

WINNER

ON THE BEACH

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.

WINNER

VERNON BUILDING SOCIETY

HIGHLY COMMENDED

G.H SHELDON WHOLESALE BAKERS

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.

WINNER

CULINA GROUP

HIGHLY COMMENDED

JD SPORTS FASHION PLC

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.

WINNER

SPEEDY FREIGHT

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.

WINNER

RACHAEL O'BRIEN
McBride Plc

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.

WINNER

ANDREW GIBBS
Manchester Airport Group

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.

WINNER

KATIE WOODFORD
Enspec Power

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.

WINNER

CHARLOTTE CONCHIE
Speedy Freight

HIGHLY COMMENDED

BEN CHICKEN
Fulfillment Crowd

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.

WINNER

LUCA MORTON
Culina Group

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (NON-QUALIFIED)

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

WINNER

Matthew O'Neill
Bank of America

Meet the partners

2026 Shortlist

Sponsorship

Finance Awards North West Winners 2026

2026 Finance Awards North West Winners

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

WINNER

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

WINNER

HIGHLY COMMENDED

FINANCE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (UP TO £100M TURNOVER - LANCASHIRE & LIVERPOOL)

WINNER

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

WINNER

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

WINNER

HIGHLY COMMENDED

FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (OVER 40 PEOPLE)

WINNER

FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (11-40 PEOPLE)

WINNER

FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (10 PEOPLE OR LESS)

WINNER

HIGHLY COMMENDED

FINANCE TRANSFORMATION & CHANGE (OVER £100M TURNOVER)

WINNER

HIGHLY COMMENDED

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

WINNER

FINANCE BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR

WINNER

FINANCE TEAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR (QUALIFIED)

WINNER

FINANCE TEAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR (NON-QUALIFIED)

WINNER

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (QUALIFIED)

WINNER

HIGHLY COMMENDED

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (PART-QUALIFIED)

WINNER

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (NON-QUALIFIED)

WINNER

Award Partners