Member Article

North East Accountancy Awards winners announced

Thursday 31st May, saw the region’s accounting and finance stars praised for their achievements at the sixth Nigel Wright North East Accountancy Awards.

Hosted by Real Radio Breakfast presenter Lisa Shaw, the black tie dinner took place at the Newcastle Marriott Hotel, Gosforth Park. The event brought together 300 people from the region’s finance and business community in a celebration of individual and team success in the financial sector. Supported by the main finance organisations, AAT, ACCA, CIMA, CIOT, CIPFA and ICAEW, the event is firmly established as the premier financial sector awards in North East England.

Former investment banker and columnist for The Spectator, Martin Vander Weyer, gave an after dinner speech where he praised the North East business community for its resilience in troubling times, and urged for continued commitment and optimism of the global economic situation.

The black tie dinner which took place at Newcastle Marriott Hotel, Gosforth Park, was attended by 300 people from the region’s finance and business community in a celebration of individual and team success in the financial sector.

Nigel Wright Recruitment is headline sponsor, and other sponsors include BPP, Kaplan Financial, Costco, Catalyst, NECC and RMT. The event is organised by Benchmark Communications an event management agency based in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Category Winners are as follows:

-Finance Director of the Year - Martin Such, Quantum Pharmaceutical Limited
- Accountant of the Year - Paul Newton, Performance Horizon Group Limited
- New Accountant of the Year - Robert Ribchester, Ribchesters Chartered Accountants
- Tax Advisor of the Year - David Hammal, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- Accounting Technician of the Year - Faye Wilson, Procter & Gamble
- Branch of the Year - KPMG LLP
- Corporate Finance Deal of the Year - PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- Independent Firm of the Year - Evolution Business and Tax Advisors LLP
- Accounting & Finance Employer of the Year - Tait Walker
- Business Finance Team of the Year - Lotte Chemical UK Ltd
- Public Sector Finance Team of the Year - BT South Tyneside
- Outstanding Achievement Award - Paul Walker

Paul Wilson, of supporting sponsor Catalyst, was delighted with the event’s success and its standing within the North East;

“Again, we’ve set new records on nomination numbers and the quality is plain to see too – fantastic. In its sixth year, the event is getting stronger and stronger and whilst I’m sure this is due to growing awareness and credibility in the North East business community, I like to think that it’s also about an increasingly confident, forward thinking and cooperative profession adding more value in the workplace. A big well done to the winners who show accountancy at its best.”

Mark Simpson, group executive director at Nigel Wright commented that it was reassuring that the region’s finance community got behind the event this year, and in doing so proved that, despite difficult market conditions, individuals and teams in the region were still able to produce great results, going on to say that it is only right they are recognised for their efforts at an awards ceremony such as this.

“Everyone enjoyed the evening, particularly those who took home an Award, well done to them all. It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves and we look forward to starting to plan for next year.”

The North East Accountancy Awards’ charity partner for 2012 was The Prince’s Trust. Laura Rose, from The Prince’s Trust in the North East, said;

“We’d like to thank Nigel Wright for their tremendous support through this fantastic event which will help to change young lives in the region. Barclays volunteers were a great support on the evening and Barclays kindly offered to match the funds raised, which we’re extremely grateful for.

“At The Prince’s Trust, we believe every young person has potential, even if they can’t yet see it for themselves. We believe in them, their talents and their future. There are currently more than one in five young people unemployed in the North East so it’s more important than ever that we give them the support they need to find work.”

Thanks to Barclays’ donation, the final amount raised was £6,000. Christine Allenson, from Barclays Sunderland Contact Centre, said;

“I am very proud of the community work which Barclays colleagues undertake in their local community and we are delighted to be able to support The Princes Trust.”

The Prince’s Trust North East Leadership Group is supported by leading businesses in the region, helping young people to establish new enterprises in the North East.

To find out more please contact Laura Rose via email [laura.rose@princes-trust.org.uk](mailto:laura.rose@princes-trust.org.uk“ target=) or call 0191 4973227.

Further details relating to the Nigel Wright North East Accountancy Awards can be found at: [www.accountancyawards.co.uk](http://www.accountancyawards.co.uk/? target=)

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by North East Accountancy Awards .