Event / HFMA members' summer series

Mark Knight, HFMA CEO

Claire Wilson, HFMA president

Claire is currently the director of finance at Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board. Prior to this she has held a number of senior roles at local, regional and national level. Claire will be the first speaker of the series and will touch on her presidential theme of ‘working as one’.

Mark Wilcock, data scientist

If you use Excel, you probably have come across the VLOOKUP function - and probably found it difficult to use. VLOOKUP does a useful job: it searches a column for a value and returns the corresponding value in another column. In this 30 minute session, Mark will demo the XLOOKUP function and show that it is a simpler and more flexible alternative to VLOOKUP.

Guy Dakin, South Central Branch committee member

Step into the extraordinary career of Guy Dakin as he takes you on a captivating journey from banking to fast cars, and finally, to the frontline of emergency services. Guy shares his insights, challenges, and triumphs he’s encountered along the way, all leading to his remarkable career in healthcare finance. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable wisdom from Guy’s unique and diverse experiences!

Alistair Brisbourne and Jade Wilson

The future of finance will be even more technology and data enabled which means that value will increasingly be created in the interface between humans and technology. Against a backdrop of shifting organisational challenges and demands on individuals, AI presents both challenges and opportunities.

For example, by helping to drive efficiencies, enhance analytical capabilities, or automate routine tasks, AI can propel us to new solutions as well as career opportunities. But to unlock new paths skill sets must evolve through continuous learning, and the distinct qualities, risks and applications of AI need to be understood.

If you have any questions relating to the ACCA qualification, please contact [email protected]

Meri Lahti

This half-hour course serves as an insightful introduction to mindfulness and stress management techniques. Topics covered include understanding stress and its effects on our health, stress reduction strategies, and practical tips for integrating mindfulness into daily life.

Daryl Cockman’s famous quiz will kick off day 2.

Clare Haynes

It's easy to assume we need to fit a mould, become something we're not or that 'professional' throws out the personal. In this session, we'll explore the easy wins in work and conversations, for confidence, to be convincing and to boost credibility.

Lee Spicer

Keeping focused and motivated when preparing for exams can be a challenge, this session will cover a few handy tips and tricks for studying towards a professional qualification, and will outline a selection of AAT’s professional qualification options.

For any further event queries, please contact [email protected]

Julie Manners

Don’t be afraid of PivotTables. A PivotTable will quickly and easily summarise a large amount of data and allow you to see the “Big Picture”. A PivotTable is an amazing slice-and-dice tool allowing you to sort, filter and analyse your data. Learn all you need to know to get started in this session!

Richard Sawyer, Sophie Rowe and Grace Lovelady

One NHS Finance brings the finance community together to connect, develop, and share innovations and best practice, to help support the high-quality services delivered to patients. In this session hear how we are helping finance staff develop the skills they need to excel in their roles and accelerate their careers whilst providing supportive programmes and networks for staff during challenging times. Rich, Grace and Sophie will talk you through the latest from One NHS Finance and our plans for the year ahead and what you could get involved in.

If you have any additional queries: please contact: [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]

Peter English

This fast-paced session will provide you with lots of practical tips on how to shine at an interview for your ‘next level’ role.

Frank Garvey, business development manager

Climate change is a crucial issue for the accounting profession. Time is running out to take action, and ICAEW and its global community of members are driving the change to protect the environment for future generations. Are you professionally ready to mitigate the risk and maximise the opportunity of climate change?

Lyn Tallentire

Lyn will cover a case study of the lessons learnt on health and wellbeing in Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit.

John Sunderland-Wright

What this really means is Influencing upwards. This involves directly influencing the decision-making of leaders one or more levels higher than your position. Not only does upward influence help drive initiatives and strategic goals, but it also is essential to establishing your credibility and builds confidence.

The concept is more than getting what you want. It is about acting as an integral employee who can offer broad-ranging skills to your organisation, showing your potential to move to the next level. This short session will provide you with the key tools so you can master influencing up and boost your career.

Zachary Scott

CIPFA, supported by the Health Foundation, aims to explore the extent to which local authorities’ spending on prevention, as it relates to the wider determinants of health, can be quantified. The project has a dual objective of establishing a consensus on the definition of prevention and co-producing approaches to map preventive activities and associated spending using local authorities’ financial records. Anticipated outcomes include the development of a classification system for preventative activity, with a focus on primordial prevention, that is operational at the local government level. Additionally, the project aims to provide case studies and examples of best practices for quantifying preventive investment. Despite its limited scope, the project is expected to have significant implications, including facilitating evidence-based decision-making, informing discussions on population health and health inequalities, improving communication with residents, and supporting further research on the efficiency and effectiveness of preventive activities and equity in resource allocation.

If you have any specific questions relating to the CIPFA qualification, please contact [email protected]

Jamie Raine

This session will explain what Power Automate and Power Apps are and how they can be used, alongside a case study of how Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit have been using them.

Nick Elston

The 'Find Your Voice' session, crafted by Nick Elston, is designed to elevate your speaking skills to inspire and lead with emotional depth. This session delves into emotional leadership, teaching participants how to forge real connections and be compellingly heard across all facets of life and business. Through a series of dynamic exercises and impactful storytelling, attendees learn to communicate their truths with confidence, making every word resonate with their audience. This isn't just about speaking; it's about moving people and driving change through the power of voice.

Greg Fradd – The accuracy people

Tips and tricks on how to avoid silly mistakes.

Our 50-minute presentation will give you an overview of:

• What we mean by mistakes
• What they cost you
• Why we make mistakes and what you can do about it.

Lotte Mikkelsen

When we share laughter, it becomes easier to work together as we mirror each other’s mood and emotions. Laughter Yoga is much more than a response to something humorous as it removes the need to share comedy and jokes. After a Laughter Workshop you feel energised, bonded with your group, and ready for any challenge!