The below text has been submitted by the ICAEW.
“Business success depends on a wide range of elements; but for many environmental and social factors are more prevalent than before. Whether this is because of risks from resource constraints, energy costs or customer pressure, the finance function has a key role to play, not only in describing and quantifying these risks and opportunities, but also in setting the strategic response to them, either as trusted advisors or as senior executives and board members.
The Finance for the Future Awards will be open for entries from 6 March 2017 and we are looking for organisations that are integrating sustainability into business decision making with support from their finance function. Entrants must be able to demonstrate how the role of finance has been key in developing sustainable business models that deliver long-term value.
Now in its sixth year, Finance for the Future was founded by ICAEW and HRH The Prince of Wales’s Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S) and is now also in partnership with Deloitte. The key ambition of the programme is to share best practice as well as develop a community of finance leaders, committed to drive integrated thinking and create more sustainable outcomes within their organisations.
Entering the awards presents a valuable opportunity for organisations and their finance functions to, gain recognition as leaders in business sustainability, and share best practice and learnings with a community of like-minded people.
Entrants are assessed and judged by their peers, who have picked up awards in previous years. The rigorous assessment process and the expertise and seniority of the judging panel undoubtedly seal the credibility of the Finance for the Future awards and set them apart from other awards programmes. Finalists receive bespoke feedback from the judging panel allowing them to reflect on the way they conduct business and identify potential areas for improvements.
Russ Houlden, CFO of United Utilities, who won the 2016 award for “Communicating integrated thinking” said: “We are very proud to have won this award against such strong international competition. It recognises our unique Systems Thinking approach to running the business and the way in which we communicate the benefits of that to investors and other stakeholders. Winning this award reinforces our already strong ESG credentials which are a source of pride for our employees and a USP when we choose to recruit externally.”
Featuring six categories this year, the awards are free to enter and open to all individuals and organisations globally including businesses, not-for-profit organisations and the public sector.
Positive long-term impact, collaboration and integrated thinking shone through at the 2016 awards. To read the awards winners’ success stories, visit the awards website.
The deadline for entry submission is 5 May 2017. For more information, please visit: financeforthefuture.org
