The shortlisted nominees across nine categories have been announced for the 2018 West Midlands Finance Awards.

Now in its third year, the annual awards ceremony is the only one of its kind to recognise the work and achievements of the region's top finance professionals and businesses.

The ceremony, hosted in partnership with Robert Walters, Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, ICAEW, and RSM, will take place on Thursday November 15 at the ICC in Birmingham and is expected to attract over 500 people from the local business community.

Also presented on the night will be the 2018 Business of the Year which will be awarded to an 'innovative organisation' who has achieved financial growth due to the direct and positive impact of the accounting and finance team.

Robert Walters, a specialist recruitment consultancy focusing on placing professionals into permanent, contract and temporary positions, is proud to return as sponsor of the 2018 awards.

Habiba Khatoon, associate director of Robert Walters Birmingham, said: "We have had a record-breaking number of entries this year and the standard just gets higher and higher.

"Competition this year has been tight and it is hugely encouraging to see such passion and enthusiasm from the region's financial community.

"This awards ceremony is a chance for us all to celebrate the outstanding work done by finance professionals in the region and promote the contribution they make to the economic and business landscape of the West Midlands."

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, added: "This awards ceremony comes at an important time for the region as it starts to really showcase itself as a financial hub.

"More and more, we are seeing the relocation into Birmingham of primary (and secondary) offices for international banks and corporations who have rightly now turned their attention onto the talent that already exists within our region."

All applications were judged by a panel of business leaders from the region, as well as representatives from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, ICAEW, RSM and Robert Walters.

For further information and to book tickets visit the West Midlands Finance Awards website or please contact Rum Gill on rumandeep.gill@robertwalters.com or 0207 509 8178.

West Midlands Finance Awards 2018 shortlist:

Finance Director of the Year

Ian Hughes - Big Lottery Fund

Bernard O Sullivan - Slicker Recycling

Frank Barr - Baker Goodchild

Andrew Parris - Tarmac

Ben Harwood - Naismiths

Rising Star of the Year Award (Qualified) - sponsored by Birmingham Airport

Sunil Najran, finance lead - CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) EMEA

Jayne Crathorne, team leader - Birmingham City University

Sam Williams, management accountant - Halfords Autocentres

Ashleigh Gay, STP supervisor (accounts payable & real estate), finance - McDonald's Restaurants

Rising Star of the Year (Non/Part Qualified) - sponsored by Birmingham Airport

Chelsey Joanne Bird, group financial accountant - Terberg RosRoca Group

Owen Watson, finance business partner - National Grid

Emily Wise, financial controller - BT Fleet Solutions

Pavandeep Johal, systems accountant - Tarmac

Ian Binner, retail financial accountant - Halfords Group

Finance Team of the Year (Over 20 people)

Volvo Group

Housing Plus Group

Cadent Gas

West Midlands Trains

McDonald's Restaurants

Finance Team of the Year (20 people or less) - sponsored by Hawthorn Leisure

Bladon Jets

Dudley Building Society

Birmingham City University

SFB Group

Rehability UK

Finance Team of the Year (Not-For-Profit of the Year) - sponsored by Veolia

Housing Plus Group

Midland Heart

Millennium Point

Shared Service Centre of the Year

Veolia

Jury's Inn

Rentokil Initial

Halfords Group

Excellence in Diversity

HSBC UK

Legal & General Group

Deutsche Bank

Mondelēz International

Higgs & Sons

Business Innovation - sponsored by West Midlands Railway

Tarmac

Cadent Gas

CrowdProperty

Tulip

Student Roost

National Grid