Four Housing Group finance team wins award

The finance team at Four Housing Group won top prize and the title ‘Public Sector Finance Team of the Year 2009’ at the North East Accountancy Awards last week.

Within the past year, the team originally working for Three Rivers Housing Association, has been instrumental in achieving the successful transfer of stock from the former Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council and the creation of a new group structure which resulted in them becoming the finance team for the new Four Housing Group which includes Three Rivers Hosing Association and Berwick Borough Housing.

Other achievements include the successful negotiation of a £12.5million facility with Lloyds TSB to fund the Berwick Borough Housing Decent Homes Programme, efficiency savings of £250,000 and the implementation of robust financial systems across the new group.

The category of ‘Public Sector Finance Team of the Year 2009’ received the highest number of entries this year, and the final shortlist consisted of six other nominees including Sunderland City Council, Northumbria NHS Trust, the Child Support Agency and Northumbria University.

Finance director for Four Housing Group Mike Axe said: “This is a huge achievement for the team and it recognises all of the hard work, the professionalism and commitment of the team over the last year. It particularly recognised our work on the Berwick transfer, whilst still delivering a high quality financial service to Three Rivers.”