Comment / Strategic focus

A belated happy new year to all our members. This is the first magazine of 2014 and, as usual, our first opportunity to hear from our new president. Andy Hardy’s theme, ‘Leading by numbers’, will surely resonate with all of us working in the NHS. But it’s not just for the most senior managers. This year is about encouraging us all to show leadership in our actions and decisions. Without a strong, robust finance function that is fit for the task ahead, the NHS cannot achieve its strategic goals. In a similar vein, this issue also includes a feature about the Future-focused finance initiative, a very exciting strategy.

For its part, the HFMA is looking to develop during 2014 as we plot our strategy for 2014-17. As long ago as July 2012, we set out the ‘new’ areas we wanted to pursue within this strategy (as well as existing aims). The four threads are membership, voice, research and qualifications.

Increasing membership is a key strategic aim of the HFMA. We are committed to seeing this increase across all levels of staff, but we also recognise the importance of further increasing our membership among chief finance officers. This not only enhances our authority and the combined experience we can call on, but sets the right example for the rest of the finance function.

After tax, and paying by direct debit, our membership subscription works out at just £36, and everyone up to the top of band 5 gets it at the lower abated rate. The benefits include this magazine, the branch network, regular e-updates and news services and more. However, we are looking at a variety of ways to enhance membership – monthly payments, for example, making it easier to join or adding to the benefits.

The key issue is to redefine the offer and avoid confusion with our organisational programmes such as the partner scheme. Our new marketing director Simon Dolph has set to work on that objective and hopefully you will notice a significant change to our approach.

Developing our voice and research are linked because good primary research provides the foundation for informed comment. These are areas we have already developed and where we are making further substantial investment. For example, we have employed a new policy director, Paul Briddock, who starts full time with us this month. He will lead our approach to the development of policy, which includes us working on a wide range of different issues.

Long term, the development of qualifications is important to our future and we will be investing funds in the next year into looking at what type of qualifications we could offer. We don’t want to enter the primary accountancy qualification market – that’s crowded enough – but we want to build on our Introductory certificate in healthcare finance.

Finally, I am conscious we haven’t said anything recently about our bid for a royal charter. Obtaining one is not easy and we are still working hard with a number of organisations to move it forward. But we won’t succeed overnight. And while it remains a key strategic goal for the HFMA, our focus remains on the day-to-day matters at hand.

Although later in the year we will be asking you about our new strategy, you know you can contact me at any time to make your views known at [email protected].