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.

Financial directors are often stereotyped as having their heads full of numbers, and a rather grim demeanour. I’m sure that readers here will wholeheartedly disagree with this – in the past few years, FDs have changed beyond recognition, all to the benefit of our profession.

You won’t find Brighthouse FD Giles David stuck behind his desk, day in and day out.

Fiona McLean has made the transition from working in the finance operation of a large company to being an entrepreneur and FD of her designer lingerie business. Here, she tells us all about it.

Commitment is one of the most important traits for an interim FD, says Jennifer Raines who spent a couple of years in the interim game before setting up her consultancy Your Right Hand FD.

A good finance team will help make a success of a growing company, argues SpinVox CFO Andrew Cherry. He warns entrepreneurs to ignore the importance of finance at their peril.

Plans for Cobra Beer to go public have been delayed although FD Dynshaw Italia says the company would be ready to float next year if the timing is right.