Comment / Board report

The HFMA board met in Belfast in October to discuss all matters ‘association’. Trustees were in buoyant mood as they signed off the audited accounts and annual report. With a turnover of just over £4m, the HFMA Group has produced a surplus for 2010/11 well ahead of budget – a success we put down to services such as e-learning and the annual conference.

These sound financial circumstances give us an excellent platform to invest in some of our initiatives – for example, we were able to invest in our ‘Take Control’ initiative this year. I would like to thank all our customers, both NHS or commercial organisations, for all their support. Without their consistent help we could not discharge our other charitable functions.

The meeting also discussed the results of elections to the board and the various sub-committees. These will be listed on the AGM agenda, to be posted shortly on the HFMA website and dispatched to branch secretaries.

The most important appointment is, of course, Sue Jacques as president. She has two sets of ‘threes’ in her history – she’s the third woman to lead HFMA and the third person from the North East following in the footsteps of Joe Turnbull (1964/65) and John Flook (2001/02). I’m also tempted to say she has three jobs – not only is she deputy chief executive but also director of finance and chief operating officer at County Durham and Darlington NHS FT.  You will read more about Sue’s theme and vision in upcoming issues of the magazine, but I know she is passionate about developing talent, so don’t be surprised to see more on that theme.

Another appointment confirmed at the meeting was Andy Hardy as vice president for 2011/12 (and so president 2013/14), who will be working alongside existing vice president Tony Whitfield. While Andy has huge experience as a finance director, he is currently an acute chief executive – an unusual CV for someone in the higher echelons of the association.

I am delighted that Andy, who has led our Payment by Results Special Interest Group since its inception and acted as honorary treasurer in recent years, has kept up his commitment to the association. I think he will have something extra to bring to us in the future – perhaps about looking at careers more broadly.  He is not alone in having moved from finance to general management and it is clear that accountants’ professional training provides a good foundation for the most senior roles.

Replacing Andy as national treasurer and chair of the audit and finance committee is Barbara Byrne, director of finance at West London Mental Health NHS Trust. Barbara is a keen supporter of the HFMA, who will bring immense integrity and intelligence to the role. Together with vice president Tony Whitfield and current president Suzanne Tracey, Barbara makes up an excellent top management team for the association. The AGM, which will take place slightly later than usual at 11.15am on the Friday of conference, will be Sue’s opportunity to spell out her vision.

On the challenges facing the service, someone commented recently:  ‘We are good actors in a bad play’. We want to ensure that you can not only recite your lines to the best of your ability but also take an active part in the production. HFMA is stronger because you are a member and if we continue to work together we will achieve our objectives. See you there!