Feature / Winning ways

The HFMA awards ceremony is a unique event. Perhaps it is the 700-plus finance managers who come to honour their award-winning peers, the festive atmosphere or simply the celebration of all that is good in healthcare finance.

This year will be no disappointment, with eight awards up for grabs at the gala dinner and awards ceremony. Each winner will receive a specially commissioned glass trophy.

The awards are now in their fifth year, and as with the last two years the highlight will be the crowning of the Finance Director of the Year. The award recognises professional excellence in financial management and leadership, individuals’ contribution to their own organisation, and to the improvement of healthcare locally or nationally.

Current finance director of the year Sue Jacques, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust director of finance and deputy chief executive, says winning the award was a proud moment. ‘On a personal and professional level the accolade and recognition is most rewarding and I know its something that my trust is as proud of as I am,’ she says. ‘For the finance team it has been a fantastic lift and without such an exceptional team I’m well aware I would not be able to be such an effective finance director.’

She urges boards to acknowledge the importance of the finance function by nominating their finance directors.  ‘The nomination itself will mean such a great deal and, as we face a period where the financial agenda is going to become so much more challenging, finance directors and their teams could do with the boost it will bring.’

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS Foundation Trust deputy finance director Phil Trevorrow, whose team won Healthcare Provider of the Year in 2008, agrees. ‘Receiving this award has re-affirmed the reputation of the department as one that provides a high-quality, proactive and professional service to the organisation. Our ethos is to strive to maintain the highest standards in all we do and ensure we find time to review our performance.’

One of the aims of the awards is to spread best practice. It is one of their strengths, according to Audit Commission managing director, health, Andy McKeon. ‘The Audit Commission is pleased to support the HFMA awards again this year. Judging awards is a part of my job that I find rewarding because the commitment and focus on improvement from NHS staff is inspirational,’ he says.

He particularly welcomes the addition of the Clinician of the Year Award this year. This acknowledges the importance of clinical engagement in financial management and recognises a clinician who has taken financial responsibility for their services, led efficiency or improvement programmes or provided an example for other clinicians by engaging with the financial management agenda.

‘There are some excellent examples of clinicians and finance staff working together to improve services and increasing efficiency. As times get more and more challenging it is important that we celebrate achievements and make sure we all learn from the best,’ Mr McKeon adds.

The HFMA Efficiency Award will be eagerly anticipated, given the current economic environment and the government’s call for the service to release efficiency savings while driving up the quality of services.

Two efficiency awards will be made – one for providers (including primary care trust provider arms and provider units in single-system organisations), the other for commissioners (including commissioner-type functions in single system organisations). The Accounts Team of the Year Award is also likely to generate a lot of interest, particularly with the earlier closure of accounts in 2008/09 and the move to international financial reporting standards.

Danny Storr was the financial accountant at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which won 2008 Accounts Team of the Year Award. He has since moved on to become finance manager, strategy and governance, at NHS Hull, but being part of the winning team was a milestone in his career.

‘Receiving the award was a very proud moment and an excellent way of rounding off a huge amount of effort,’ he says. ‘Six months down the line the memories of all of the difficulties and stress that went into achieving what we did have faded. Now when I think of that year-end all I can really remember is the satisfaction of picking up the trophy.’

There will also be awards for governance and charitable funds management and the HFMA Havelock Training Award will complete the line-up. The latter, which celebrates its 10th year this year, is made annually to recognise a significant contribution made towards finance skills development. It commemorates the significant contribution Jon Havelock made to NHS finance staff development. Prior to his death in 1998, he was the deputy director of finance in the Department of Health.

The Charitable Funds Management Award recognises excellence both in the use of resources to fund the charity’s purpose and in the way funds and investments are managed.

Mr Storr urges potential entrants not to think twice about entering. ‘I’ll definitely keep my eye out for awards to apply for and would encourage others to do the same,’ he says.

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