Member to member / I cannot imagine a more interesting or rewarding place to work than the NHS

He has been chair of the judging panel of the HFMA Awards for a number of years, overseeing the judging process for the most prestigious awards in healthcare finance. Paul is also one of the HFMA executive coaches, working with NHS trainees on a fast track development programme, experienced senior finance staff that are new to the NHS and newly appointed finance directors. Most recently Paul contributed to the content of the HFMA Qualifications and tutored the pilot of the programme.  We talked to him about the highlights of his career, the HFMA and the role of the new qualifications.

How did you start your NHS finance journey?

I was fortunate to go to University in the 1980s, to read economics - the product of comprehensive education and a full support and tuition grant. My mindset was always to eventually work in the public sector to ‘put something back’ to repay the support I’d benefitted from but I really had little idea of a career plan.

Despite a full term-time grant, I had to work to survive during the university breaks (usually in bars, cleaning or factory jobs). Again I was immensely fortunate one day to read an advert in an economics journal for a fixed term summer job at the then West Midlands Regional Health Authority, researching the economics of patient costing models, running then on room-sized mainframe computers.

I was lucky enough to get the post and quickly saw how my interest in finance and business (and the few skills I then possessed) could be applied to benefit patients and taxpayers by working in NHS finance.

I eventually joined the NHS some years later following a training contract with Ernst and Young and some years ‘learning the financial ropes’ as an auditor.

Why did you get involved with the HFMA?

When I worked in NHS Finance in the 1980’s and 1990’s anyone with aspirations of progressing in their career participated in the extensive programme of events organised, both nationally and regionally, by the Association of Health Service Treasurers (AHST), the forerunner of HFMA. However, at that time full membership was limited to serving or retired treasurers and I didn’t make those dizzy heights until I hit 30.

What struck me in those days, as a young accountant attending AHST and later HFMA events, was firstly the professionalism of the courses and publications organised overwhelmingly by unpaid volunteers, but also an overwhelming sense of fellowship and good humour, that sustained people through good and bad times. I like to think that these are still the hallmarks of the Association today.

Occasionally I compare in awe the modest organisation I first joined in 1986 with the magnificent slick enterprise led by Mark Knight today. They share common values but the support provided to its membership by HFMA today is immeasurably greater and that is testimony to the hard work and dedication of many and to the superb leadership of Mark (but don’t tell him I said so).

Serving HFMA first as a volunteer organiser of events, then subsequently in various executive roles on the West Midlands branch and ultimately in national roles, was always encouraged by whichever finance director I worked for at the time. However, in addition, such is the universal respect the Association has throughout the service, my various chief executives and chairs were always equally supportive of time spent on HFMA activities. I can honestly say that my membership of the Association over the years has been a source of immense pleasure to me and a great privilege.

Looking back as your year of presidency, what was the most remarkable experience?

Being asked to represent the Association as its first ‘President’ for 37 years, in its diamond anniversary year of 2010, was an amazing honour for me – the highlight of my professional career.  

I recall assuring my then chairman that being president would result in being out of the office for about 30 days a year, based on the experience of my predecessors. What I didn’t legislate for was the extensive programme of additional 60^th anniversary celebratory events held in every single branch in 2010 and comfortably doubling my estimated absences from work.

Whilst speaking at the United States HFMA ANI Conference, before 4,500 delegates in Las Vegas, was an undoubted highlight of 2010 for me, my most cherished memories are the universally positive welcomes I received as president when visiting the local HFMA branches in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the regions of England. I met some wonderful people and was genuinely inspired by the affection members hold for the Association. Everywhere I went I encountered professionalism, excellence and importantly, finance staff sharing experiences and having fun.

I am left with the impression of an Association and an NHS finance function in sound hands and with a very bright future.

What’s the most important HFMA member benefit for you?

Working in and around the NHS I’m often hear envious comments from other healthcare professions about the sense of togetherness the HFMA engenders amongst its membership. This I feel is HFMA’s biggest benefit to its membership – the common purpose and sense of fellowship that transcends organisational boundaries.

You are one of the qualification tutors. Why did you get involved?

I left full time NHS employment a few years ago and now have a varied portfolio of roles, principally in financial consultancy and in academia. I have been teaching for a while on the masters programmes at the University of Wolverhampton and have recently been working with colleagues to put together a new teaching platform in Healthcare Business and Finance for HFMA (leading from diploma to MBA level).

I have long since felt that the Association should develop such a qualification. HFMA USA has had a highly respected qualification set for years. I am really pleased to say that HFMA has invested in gathering the best practitioners in their fields to produce a qualification set which is academically rigorous but is unashamedly relevant to busy finance professionals working in modern healthcare.

We have completed successful piloting of our module sets and are now running live with cohorts of real learners. Their initial feedback is hugely encouraging and I believe that the Association can be rightly proud of its new qualification.

What’s the long-term benefit for the students?

The reason I am excited by these qualifications are they are so relevant to learners own workplace experiences. So in addition to securing an academically valuable addition to their CV, learners will be better equipped to cope with demanding healthcare finance roles both currently and in the future.

Also the teaching style is absolutely geared towards busy professionals, with an emphasis on web based remote working and learners being encouraged to share their own experiences and real life examples.

I would certainly commend the qualifications to anyone working in healthcare finance or to non-accountants interested in learning more about how healthcare business works.

What piece of advice do you have for others who are starting their NHS finance journey now?

Even three decades after starting my career in NHS Finance, I cannot imagine a more interesting or rewarding place to work than the NHS. There is no doubt that the challenges presented to young professionals are greater now than ever. But in turn the NHS needs good people more than ever and I am encouraged by the enthusiasm and enterprise of the new entrants to the profession I meet.

I would encourage all young professionals to always seek to learn from others – kindness and humility pays huge rewards in the NHS; always try to think of the ‘bigger picture’ and understand how individual roles or tasks link together and ultimately benefit the patient; and finally engage with HFMA – you certainly won’t regret it!