A total of 21 companies, not-for-profit organisations and charities have been shortlisted for the Published Accounts Awards 2004, organised by the Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants (LSCA) and sponsored by Matheson Ormsby Prentice (MOP)

The winners will be announced at a lunch on November 19th.

Last year's winners DCC, appear again on the list for large quoted companies, along with CRH, which has won the award on a number of occasions.

Also shortlisted in this category is Paddy Power, which featured a streaker at last year's Heineken European Rugby Cup Final on the final of its latest annual accounts, alongside a slogan "up for it!"

Last year's winner - Jurys Doyle Hotel Group - features in the small quoted companies category, along with Airtricity, Ulster Television and CPL. Short-listed in the charities and not-for-profit category are the Irish Sailing Association, the GAA, Concern, Focus Ireland and Barnardos.

The ESB won last year's award for statutory and unquoted large entities and is joined on this year's shortlist by Aer Rianta, Bord Gáis, ESB, NTR, Dublin Port, Bord na Mona and The Pensions Board.

Mr John Casey, chairman of the Leinster Society, said at the launch of the short-list that the highest standard of financial reporting was now particularly important with the imminent introduction of the stringent International Financial Reporting Standards.