Finance Director of the Year Award

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The Finance Director of the Year Award represents one of the most prestigious accolades available to finance directors in healthcare across the UK. The award is for professional excellence in financial management and leadership and recognises an individual’s contribution

Further detail on this Award can be found in HFMA’s 2009 Awards brochure.

Winner: Paul Hinnigan

HFMA Finance Director of the Year Paul Hinnigan has a long established record of achieving financial targets, and his reputation for accuracy and approachability has gained the respect of board members and staff.
The NHS Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust deputy chief executive and director of finance and information has been a passionate leader of the finance team since the PCT was set up nine years ago. He has consistently led the achievement of all financial targets – a rare feat for any NHS organisation over the past decade.
Mr Hinnigan said: 'I am proud to have won the award but it's more for the team behind me. They have got me here. So it's not just a personal award, it's an award for the team and also for the PCT. I am as pleased as punch.'

Achievements
Judges were struck by the respect and admiration shown by colleagues for Mr Hinnigan’s performance. He was nominated for the award by PCT chairman Nick Kennedy and chief executive Judith Griffin, who is a trained nurse.  He is well aware that radical action is required in the current financial climate, so Mr Hinnigan ensures all staff receive regular updates and briefings to understand the challenges and opportunities ahead.

As a result, staff surveys and event evaluations demonstrate a feeling of real ownership among staff of the work of the organisation and the financial targets. This in turn fosters great respect for their director of finance, Mr Kennedy says ‘Paul has been the essential financial link and control in an organisation that is at the cutting edge nationally of improving local health and healthcare,’ he adds.

Further detail on the winning entry is available in the HFMA 2009 Awards Supplement.

What the judges said
“Board members have complete confidence in the information provided to them and Paul always makes a broad contribution to the affairs of the trust. He has been personally committed to seeing through challenging contract negotiations with the local NHS trust”

Further detail on the entry requirements, judging criteria and judges for this particular award can be found in the HFMA 2009 Awards Brochure.

Also shortlisted
Wendy Galbraith, Belfast Health and Social Services Trust
Claire Yarwood, NHS Salford
Tim Welch, Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust