The finalists for Finance for the Future Awards 2018 have been announced today by the founding organisations, ICAEW and A4S, and their partner Deloitte. The awards highlight good business practice, by recognising the role of finance in helping to embed sustainability issues in to organisation’s decision making. Now in its seventh year, the awards ceremony will take place on 16 October 2018.

This year, the Finance for the Future Awards has received over 68 entries, seeing a 28% increase from last year. The awards highlight the essential role that finance plays in driving integrated thinking in decision making and in building sustainable business models. Entrants must be able to demonstrate how the role of the finance function and financing has been key to building a sustainable organisation, which delivers long-term financial performance while operating within environmental, social and other constrains and/or generating long term value for stakeholders.

GroFin was shortlisted in the Building Sustainable Financial Products, which recognises organisations that create sustainable business products that are financially sustainable.

GroFin entered this prestigious award to share the achievements of the GroFin Model – an integrated solution of finance and business support to small and growing businesses. The application of this model through the Small Growing Business (SGB) Fund has sustained over 37,000 jobs in Africa since its launch in 2014.

Guido Boysen, GroFin CEO, said: “We are thrilled to be a finalist in the Finance for the Future Awards. This achievement is thanks to the support of our investors, partners and staff. The nomination is an endorsement of our efforts to support and grow SMEs across our 11 countries of operations in Africa.”

Richard Spencer, Head of Sustainability at ICAEW said: “The finalists have made the shortlist because of their ability to build a sustainable organisation, and keep sustainability at the heart of their operations. This shows dedication to tackling the serious environmental and social issues we face, and shows innovation in finance and accountancy when facing these challenges. The finalists not only deliver real change in their businesses, they are also encouraging other businesses to do the same by leading the way.”

Helen Slinger, CFO Leadership Network Director, A4S, said: “Embedding social and environmental issues within key decisions can improve performance. The finalists of these Awards demonstrate why all finance leaders should be considering these issues; for the future of the planet and society, but also their organizations.”

Veronica Poole, global IFRS leader and UK head of accounting and corporate reporting at Deloitte, said: “This year saw the launch of a new category focused on embedding an integrated approach, commonly known as integrated thinking, across an organisation. It is very encouraging to see strong entries in this new category, in addition to continued popularity of the now well established category of communicating integrated thinking. Showcasing the leading practices in both is particularly timely and relevant in the UK with renewed focus on directors’ duty to promote the long-term success of their business. This long-term view takes into account the interests of a broad group of stakeholders such as employees, customers, suppliers and the environment. Investors and policy makers are also increasingly focusing on businesses’ ability to create value in the long-term in a responsible way. These leading examples of integrated thinking should be of interest worldwide.”

Media enquiries:

Contact Natalie Bruce, ICAEW press office, on +44 (0)20 7920 8616, or email natalie.bruce@icaew.com

Deborah McSkimming, A4S press office, email deborah.mcskimming@royal.uk

Notes to editors:

ICAEW connects over 147,000 chartered accountants worldwide, providing this community of professionals with the power to build and sustain strong economies.

Training, developing and supporting accountants throughout their career, we ensure that they have the expertise and values to meet the needs of tomorrow’s businesses.

Our profession is right at the heart of the decisions that will define the future, and we contribute by sharing our knowledge, insight and capabilities with others. That way, we can be sure that we are building robust, accountable and fair economies across the globe.

ICAEW is a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW), which brings together 11 chartered accountancy bodies, representing over 1.6m members and students globally.

The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S)

The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S) was established by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2004. Our aim is to make sustainable decision making business as usual.

We work with the finance and accounting community to:

• Inspire finance leaders to adopt sustainable and resilient business models
• Transform financial decision making to enable an integrated approach, reflective of the opportunities and risks posed by environmental and social issues
• Scale up action across the global finance and accounting community

A4S has three global networks: the Chief Financial Officers Leadership Network, a group of CFOs from leading organizations seeking to transform finance and accounting; the Accounting Bodies Network whose members comprise approximately two thirds of the world’s accountants; and, the Asset Owners Network which brings together Pension Fund Chairs to integrate sustainability into investment.

www.accountingforsustainability.org

Deloitte

In this press release references to “Deloitte” are references to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”) a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms.

Deloitte LLP is a subsidiary of Deloitte NWE LLP, which is a member firm of DTTL, and is among the UK’s leading professional services firms.

The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.

For more information, please visit www.deloitte.co.uk.