Midlands Finance Awards 2025 Winners

2025 Midlands Finance Awards Winners

Professionals and businesses were honoured across 14 award categories at a prestigious awards ceremony on Thursday 6th November 2025 at the ICC in Birmingham. 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 Lucy Porter, and live music from LGB Entertainment.

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 clearly provided examples of where their strategic direction has positively impacted both their team and company.

WINNER

NICKY THOMAS
Wolseley

FINANCE DIRECTOR/CFO OF THE YEAR (UP TO £100M TURNOVER)

WINNER

JOE HYLAND
Attraction World Group

FINANCE DIRECTOR/CFO OF THE YEAR (NOT-FOR-PROFIT)

Awarded to a Finance Director or CFO from a not-for-profit organisation with a demonstrable legacy of delivery in financial performance, leadership and management. The winner clearly provided examples of where their strategic direction has positively impacted both their team and company.

WINNER

ZOE ROSSI-O'CALLAGHAN
St Basils

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

Awarded to a Head of Finance/Finance Director from a business turning over more than £100m annually with a demonstrable legacy of delivery in financial performance, leadership and management. The winner clearly provided examples of where their strategic direction has positively impacted both their team and company.

WINNER

TOM KAVANAGH
Cyncly

HIGHLY COMMENDED

KELSEY MASTERS
Wolseley

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

Awarded to a Head of Finance/Financial Controller from a business turning over 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

LARA PARKINSON
Arvato SCM UK Limited

HIGHLY COMMENDED

PHIL WALTON
Rem3dy Health Ltd

FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (NOT-FOR-PROFIT)

Awarded to a not-for-profit organisation that has demonstrated excellence in their field, with proven examples of collective successes within the last 12 months. The winning team will have positively impacted the wider company through outstanding achievements in the delivery of projects and encompass an infectious team spirit.

WINNER

RELIANCE SOCIAL HOUSING CIC

FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (OVER 20 PEOPLE)

Sponsored by Cambridge & Counties Bank
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 will have positively impacted the wider business through outstanding achievements in the delivery of projects and encompass an infectious team spirit.

WINNER

XPO LOGISTICS

HIGHLY COMMENDED

LLOYDS CLINICAL LIMITED

FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR (20 PEOPLE OR LESS)

Sponsored By Reliance Social Housing CIC
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 will have positively impacted the wider business through outstanding achievements in the delivery of projects and encompass an infectious team spirit.

WINNER

WABTEC UK LTD

HIGHLY COMMENDED

J&J GLOBAL FULFILMENT

FINANCE TRANSFORMATION & CHANGE

The Finance Transformation & Change award is 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.

WINNER

CYNCLY

HIGHLY COMMENDED

XPO LOGISTICS

FINANCE TRANSFORMATION & CHANGE (NOT-FOR-PROFIT)

The Finance Transformation & Change award is presented to a team from a not-for-profit organisation 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.

WINNER

ASTON UNIVERSITY

HIGHLY COMMENDED

RELIANCE SOCIAL HOUSING CIC

TRANSACTIONAL FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR

Presented to a Midlands based Transactional Finance Team that has demonstrated excellence in its field. They have demonstrated collective successes within the last 12 months. The winning team has positively impacted the wider business through outstanding achievements in the delivery of projects. The team should also embody a positive team spirit.

WINNER

CADENT GAS

HIGHLY COMMENDED

ASTON UNIVERSITY

ESG EXCELLENCE AWARD

Awarded to a business that has demonstrated the key achievements the finance team has made to drive forward and integrate the companies ESG objectives over the last 12 months. The winning business outlined how they are driving to become a sustainable organisation, how their ESG objectives/policies are integrated into the medium term plan and what role the finance team plays within this.

WINNER

DPRG

HIGHLY COMMENDED

AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE DEVELOPMENT BOARD

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 is 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

JEREMY COOPER
BNP Paribas Personal Finance

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (NON/PART-QUALIFIED)

Sponsored by Wabtec UK Ltd
Presented to the most passionate, driven and delivery focused person in the market. The winner of the non/part-qualified award is a finance professional with less than 8 years of experience. They will have provided examples of high achievement and outperforming their peer group.

WINNER

JORDAN ANDERSON
XPO Logistics

HIGHLY COMMENDED

IRENE BOATENG
GXO