CRH crowned the Overall Winner of the 2022 Published Accounts Awards

CRH has been announced as the Overall Winner of this year’s Chartered Accountants Leinster Society Published Accounts Awards, in addition to winning the ‘Euronext Dublin (Large Cap > €1bn)’ Award category. The awards, which are sponsored by Euronext, took place in the Shelbourne Hotel for the first time since 2019, with special guest MC Andrew Maxwell.

Chairperson of Chartered Accountants Leinster Society, Ann-Marie Costello said:

“This evening showcases the best of Irish corporate reporting. These awards have evolved over the last number of years and recognise companies for their achievements across areas such as Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion and Branding, Communication and Digital, not just the financial reporting itself. The continued improvements in the quality of reporting, and in particular, the increased focus on addressing the needs of all stakeholders, is evident in this year’s entries. In particular for me this year, it’s been wonderful to see so many new entrants to the PAA, and indeed first-time winners across a number of the categories. Congratulations to all our worthy winners”

Alan D’Arcy, Chair of the Published Accounts Awards, said:

“We are living in an environment where business and society are becoming increasingly interlinked.  Shareholders and stakeholders are looking beyond the financial reporting aspects of an annual report and sustainability and ESG reporting are now more important than ever. The Published Accounts Awards play a pivotal role in raising the bar for Irish companies and it is encouraging to see so many of them adopting best practice when it comes to their annual reports.”

Of the judging process, Lisa Gilligan, Vice Chair of the Published Accounts Awards commented:

‘All the judges agreed, the standard of Diversity & Inclusion reporting coming through in annual reports has improved vastly over the last number of years and is evident in the running of their businesses. A number of shortlisted companies are now providing more information in this area, including gender pay gap reports and specific Diversity & Inclusion reporting, which was great to see. ‘

Published Accounts Awards judge Shauna Greely, former Chartered Accountants Ireland President, commented on the improvement in Diversity & Inclusion reporting,

‘I have seen significant focus and improvement in Annual Reports on many areas, with a particular call out for the information included on Diversity & Inclusion and Sustainability across all companies.  I would particularly commend those companies who are leading the way and voluntarily disclosing information eg gender pay gap, in advance of this becoming mandatory’

Daryl Byrne, CEO, Euronext Dublin, who sponsored this year’s awards, commented:

“High-quality financial reporting is essential for investors and other stakeholders and is an important contributor to well-functioning securities markets, and even more so in challenging economic conditions.  Euronext is delighted to sponsor the Published Accounts Awards which recognizes and celebrates companies who have excelled in their financial reporting and communications with investors and stakeholders.”

A total of 25 public and private companies, and 12 not-for-profit organisations competed as finalists across fourteen distinct award categories.

CRH took home the big award of the night, the Overall Winner Award as well as scooping the Euronext Dublin (Large Cap > €1bn) Award.

Among the category winners were ESB who were delighted to hold onto the award for Statutory or Unquoted Entity (IFRS) for an eleventh year in a row, as well as scooping the Sustainability & ESG Reporting (Unquoted Entity) Award for a second year running. DCC took home the ‘Company listed on a Foreign Market’ Award again this year, and in the ‘Euronext Growth Award’ category Uniphar claimed first place. Glenveagh Properties were awarded top place in the Euronext Dublin (SME < €1bn) category, and Coillte GCA were the winners of the Statutory or Unquoted Entity (Non-IFRS) Award.

The Sustainability & ESG Reporting (Listed Entity) Award went to Kerry Group, the award for Branding, Communication & Digital went to Dog’s Trust; the Diversity & Inclusion (Not for Profit) Award was scooped up by Barnardos, with the Diversity & Inclusion (Listed or Unquoted Entity) Award going to Central Bank of Ireland.

In the ‘Not-For-Profit’ Award categories, Jigsaw took home the award for the Large category and Aidlink topped the list of Small / Medium charities.

The full list of award winners is as follows: