16 July 2024
Colleagues in our finance team have taken home awards at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Northern Branch Annual Conference 2024.
The event took place in June at Ramside Hall in Durham and showcased the vital contribution that finance staff play in healthcare across the northeast region.
The finance team scooped the Finance Team of the Year Award at the conference and were honoured for their creativity, innovation, efficiency and quality of work whilst focussing on financial recovery to support the Trust and patient outcomes.
Liz Romaniak, executive director of finance, estates and facilities said: “The Team has amazed me, showing true leadership, bravery and ambition, remaining true to our values, supporting each other, me, and our Trust.”
“The Trust faced big strategic challenges which have consumed organisational capacity, so the team needed to quietly and diligently progress the financials, with a focus on improvement and doing the right thing for patients.
“Their positivity and resilience is impressive and I’m so proud of each colleague’s contribution and teamwork!”
Emma Cruttenden, management accountant was also awarded an Unsung Hero Award.
Emma was chosen due to the contributions she has made. This included steering the central financial management team through a very challenging period of change, whilst supporting work to ensure delivery of monthly reporting across the Trust.
Not only did Emma implement structured timetables and weekly trackers to keep the team on track. She also balanced their workloads, as well as her own, to make sure deadlines were met and everything ran smoothly.
A positive, kind and thoughtful role model to all, she provides motivation and focuses on both results and the wellbeing of the team.
“Emma always goes above and beyond the requirements of her role,” said her colleagues.
“Most importantly she approaches it all with a smile on her face for others to see. Well done Emma!”
The Trust was also pleased that Drew Kendall, retired associate director of finance at the Trust, received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the event, in acknowledgement of his contribution to the work of the HFMA regionally and to promote mental health.
A big congratulations to Emma, Drew and our finance team.
