The finance chief at East Anglia-based infection and contamination control products company Tristel has received one of the top honours at a national awards ceremony.

Liz Dixon, who has been with Tristel for eight years and was appointed group finance director in 2010, was named FD of the Year for smaller quoted companies at the FDs’ Excellence Awards in London.

The awards, held by Real Business, part of Caspian Media, in association with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and supported by the CBI, recognise top performing finance directors from public and privately owned companies of all sizes across the UK, together with providers of related services such as banking and accountancy.

Liz Dixon trained with national accountancy firm BDO before moving into industry with the Newmarket-based Holiday Property Bond Group where she progressed to the role of UK finance manager.

She joined Tristel in 2007 as chief group accountant and went on to join the board of its Tristel Solutions business in 2009 before being appointed group finance director in June 2010.

A spokesman for Tristel, which is based at Snailwell, near Newmarket, said: “Tristel is thrilled that Liz has been recognised in this way.

“She helped with a major restructuring in 2012 and last year the company quadrupled its dividend after showing discipline and performance.”

The FDs’ Excellence Awards were held this year at the London Marriott Hotel, in Grosvenor Square, with the ceremony being hosted by comedian Marcus Brigstocke.

Other winners of FD of the Year titles included Chris Kennedy of budget airline easyJet (for FTSE 100 listed companies) and Mike Wroe of online takeaway ordering service Just Eat (for FTSE 250 firms). FD of the Year titles were also awarded for smaller, mid-sized and larger private companies and for private equity-backed firms.

Accountancy Firm of the Year titles went to Baker Tilly (for smaller clients) and Haines Watts (larger clients) while the Business Bank of the Year award was won by Lloyds Banking Group. Michael Page was named Recruitment Firm of the Year and St James’s Place as Pensions Firm of the Year.

Amy Carroll, group editor of Caspian Media, said: “We were particularly struck by the judges praise for the entrants this year, as reflected by the number who were cited as being as ‘Highly Commended’, alongside the category winners.

“A wide variety of organisations from many different sectors were represented in the final line-up, united by their financial skills and focus on business success. It will be interesting to see how they all continue to progress in the months and years ahead.”

Liz Rylatt, ICAEW executive director, said: “I am thrilled to celebrate the success of the UK’s top talent in the finance profession.

“With a new government in place, finance directors are at the critical stage of balancing and growing our economy again. Therefore the calibre of winners at these awards is very encouraging, both for the future of our profession and the impact it has on the wider economy.”

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI director of economics, added: “As the economy moves steadily along the right tracks, the financial sector, and its skilled directors, has a huge role to play in continuing to drive growth and create jobs right across the country.

“Tonight’s awards showcase some of the sector’s leading lights, present and future, and the CBI is delighted to offer them, and the awards, our continued support.”