The Role of the Finance Director

1
The Role of the Finance Director

• Bill Shields
• Director of Finance and Commissioning
• CIPFA Annual Conference
• 14 June 2007

2
NHS South West Background

• Largest geographical area
• Penzance to Tewkesbury in North and Salisbury in
  the East
• Revenue budget of 7 billion responsibility for
  40 organisations
• 2006/07 outturn 55 million surplus, but four
  organisations are financially challenged

3
National Drivers

• Increase in choice and consumerism
• Greater plurality of provision and commercialism
• Raised public expectations
• Continued pressure from Spending Review
  settlements

4
NHS Drivers

• Choice at point of referral
• Continued reduction in waiting times (18 week
  Referral to Treatment)
• More effective commissioning
• Greater plurality of provision
• Independent Sector Treatment Centres
• Foundation Trust status
• Increased collaboration with Social Care
• Sustaining Financial Balance

5
The Finance Directors Challenge

• Maintaining control in an environment
  characterised by change
• Recruiting and retaining high quality teams with
  continued uncertainty
• Increasing innovation without losing control over
  the basics
• Improving financial reporting to comply with
  Intelligent Board recommendations
• Championing finance and leading recovery where
  appropriate, but ensuring full buy-in from the
  Board
• Championing good governance, but still playing a
  full corporate role

6
Key Skills and Attributes

• Good technical skills and the ability to be
  strategic while mastering the detail
• Ability to lead the finance function, champion
  good governance and financial control
• Strong corporate player with the ability to
  innovate and seize opportunities
• Ability to communicate complex issues to lay
  members while ensuring that key risks are
  understood and tackled