Awards launch to celebrate finance excellence across Middle East

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has launched the first ever Middle East Accountancy and Finance Excellence Awards to celebrate excellence in accountancy, finance and business throughout the region. Nominations for the awards, which will take place at a high-profile ceremony in Dubai on 14 December 2011, are open until the end of September. 

Open to finance professionals, business leaders and organisations, the awards programme is based around the themes of excellence, leadership and best practice. Emirates NBD is the Platinum sponsor and the ten categories include ‘CFO of the Year’, ‘Young Accountant’, Best Training and Development, ‘Deal of the Year’ and Excellence in Financial Journalism. The entries will by judged by a 16-strong panel of business and finance leaders from across the Middle East.  

The awards ceremony is taking place at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel. Richard Dean of Dubai Eye 103.8FM will be Master of Ceremonies and sporting legend Sir Ian Botham OBE will provide the after-dinner speech. 

Amanda Line, Regional Director, ICAEW Middle East, said: “The rapid economic boom the Middle East has enjoyed over the past few decades simply could not have happened without finance professionals. Accountants, auditors and other finance experts can often go unrecognised, and yet without their crucial advice and vital strategic decisions no business would get done at all. 

“This is why we have established these awards – to celebrate all the important work that gets done, and to highlight the contribution that it makes to the economy. We also hope that it will remind a whole new generation of bright young people how rewarding and exciting a career in finance can be.” 

Edward Quinlan, Chairman, ICAEW Middle East Members Advisory Board, will be chairing the judging panel. Mr Quinlan said: “These awards are a great opportunity for talented, hardworking finance professionals to be recognised by their toughest critics – their peers. With ten categories, a whole range of skills and achievements will be acknowledged. We have made the online nomination process as simple and accessible as possible so that it is easy to nominate anyone who deserves it. Anyone who is – or who knows – an excellent finance professional, whether a young high flyer or an experienced and inspiring leader, should enter these awards.”

Surya Subramanian, Group Chief Financial Officer from Emirates NBD said: “Hardworking, highly motivated finance professionals are key to growth and prosperity in our economy, and yet they do not often get the recognition they deserve.  We are proud to be working with ICAEW to celebrate and showcase the very best of accounting and finance talent in the Middle East.” 

The deadline for entries is 28 September. For more information on the Middle East Accountancy and Finance Excellence Awards, visit www.accountancyandfinanceaward.ae.