After two years as Kidsunlimited’s finance director, Lee Pearson made the jump to the chief executive position. For other young accountants seeking a similar progression, Pearson is clear that a varied a background is crucial.

Do you have charm, brains and common sense?

Doing deals and growing businesses is what makes AES Engineering finance director Neil MacDonald tick.

BT finance director Hanif Lalani is the 2008 Real FD/CBI FD of the Year (FTSE 100) but the competition amongst the shortlisted blue chip FDs was extremely fierce this year.

Sink a pint for Connie Parry, chief executive and FD of Hurns – the largest independent producer and distributor of beer in South Wales. Parry and her brother Philip are turning the Swansea-based family firm into an international brand.

A crowd of 400 people were at the London Marriot Grosvenor Square last night to witness the crowning of the winners of this year's Real FD/CBI FDs' Excellence Awards.

Aveva Group finance director Paul Taylor had a very successful night at the Real FD/CBI FDs’ Excellence Awards, going home with two trophies. He was named FTSE 250 FD of the Year and also got the gong for FDs’ FD of the Year.

Now that investors and the directors of Marks and Spencer appear to have reached a compromise over the elevation of Sir Stuart Rose to executive chairman, it is time to re-examine the sacrosanctity of the UK ‘comply or explain’ corporate governance framework. 

Finance personnel are employed because of their number-crunching abilities. As they excel, they rise through the ranks until they reach the level of financial manager or director.

There are some big names on the shortlists for this year’s Real FD/CBI FDs’ Excellence Awards.