A Market Deeping finance professional is amongst the best-performing in the UK according to this year’s shortlist for the FDs’ Excellence Awards 2013.
Al-karim Kachra, head of finance at Country Court Care Group, a 600-employee, £11m-turnover care home group, is up for Ernst & Young’s FD of the Future award at the ceremony on May 9 in central London.
Director Tony Upward says he has shown “composure and an ability to manage the finances beyond his years. He has stabilised operations and finances while allowing the group to enjoy sustainable growth where other organisations have failed.”
On taking up the role, Al-karim found an organisation in poor financial health; lending covenants had been breached. He played a lead role in developing a strategy for growth and, since 2010, the group has doubled to 452 beds, with contracts exchanged for a further 90.
Beyond pure financials, Al-karim has upgraded IT and communication, focused on staff satisfaction and rebranding.
Driven by this dynamic finance professional, Country Court Care Group is fast becoming a major player in the social care sector.
Created by Real Business, and supported by the CBI, the FDs’ Excellence Awards recognise the most astute FDs from quoted and privately owned companies in the UK, as well as the service providers that support Britain’s finance community.
The business banks, auditors, financial software suppliers, recruitment firms and non-audit advisers that are best supporting UK firms will also be unveiled, following the results of this year’s FDs’ satisfaction survey, which was completed by 1,400 financial decision makers.