A finance director who has helped transform the fortunes of his firm has received a top award. Kevin Boyd, of Oxford Instruments based at Tubney Woods, near Abingdon, carried off the Smaller Quoted FD of the Year title at the FD Excellence Awards.

Mr Boyd has helped implement chief executive Jonathan Flint’s plans to turn around the firm from a loss-making business to one which last November unveiled pre-tax half-year profits of £10.6m, more than triple those of the previous year.

The share price has also soared from less than 300p a year ago to more than 700p today.

Mr Flint said: “Kevin helped oversee a transformational period for us, reflecting in five consecutive years of substantial revenue and profit growth. His consistent focus on controlling costs and driving margins was instrumental in this progress.”

Broadcaster and journalist Peter Sissons, who hosted the event, said: “The judges were hugely impressed by the financial performance engineered by Boyd.

“Kevin’s firm grasp of the finance function and cashflows has positively impacted bottom-line performance of this business and has been a key reason why the share price has risen by 252 per cent.”

Another winner at the awards was Glenn Hayward of Oxford-based Internet registration firm Nominet who took the FD of the Future title.

Mr Hayward has been finance director since 2008, and also takes responsibility for Nominet's business development and business analysis functions.

And accountants and business advisers Grant Thornton, which has a base at the Oxford Business Park, walked away with the Auditor of the Year title.

The overall FTSE 100 FD of the Year award went to Richard Pennycook, group finance director for food retailer Morrisons.

Helen Alexander, president of the CBI, added: “With the economic recovery being driven by the private sector, strong financial direction from within companies will be crucial for growth.”