Chief Executive

Healthcare Financial Management Association

About the Organisation

HFMA is the professional body for finance staff working across the UK healthcare system. For over 75 years, the association has provided independent support and guidance to its members and across NHS organisations in the UK. It is a charitable organisation focused on promoting high standards of financial management and governance across the health economy, working through its national and regional networks to support professionals at all stages of their careers. The HFMA plays a central role in the NHS finance community through three core areas of activity:

• Supporting the profession, by providing access to networks, technical resources and professional guidance that enable members to perform effectively in complex and demanding environments
• Influencing and informing, through analysis of national policy, contributions to consultations and engagement with stakeholders to support the effective development of healthcare finance systems
• Developing capability, as the UK’s most impactful provider of healthcare finance education and training, offering professional qualifications, continuing professional development and a broad programme of events and learning.
• Membership provides access to a wide professional network, technical insight and ongoing development opportunities, including how to ensure the opportunities presented by AI to the healthcare financial managers are fully capitalised upon, supporting individuals from early career through to senior leadership roles across the NHS and wider healthcare system. The HFMA’s work is grounded in a clear purpose: To improve the quality of health and care through the effective use of financial resources.

About the role

The chief executive is responsible for the overall leadership, performance and strategic direction of the HFMA. The role requires an individual who can:

• Provide clear, compassionate leadership to the association and its team
• Define and deliver a coherent strategy
• Ensure financial sustainability
• Represent the HFMA credibly within the healthcare system.

This is not a "business-as-usual" appointment. The Board is seeking a leader who can build on strong foundations while bringing clarity, focus and strategic direction to the association’s next phase

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Define a clear and prioritised strategy for the
• HFMA, with explicit trade-offs across its activity areas
• Articulate what success looks like for the association over the next three to five years
• Ensure alignment between the association’s purpose, resources and delivery
• Strengthen the HFMA’s collaboration with equivalent organisations in the United States,
• Australia and, where appropriate, globally, ensuring international learning and insight can inform the wider UK health community

Organisational Leadership and Culture:

• Embed a consistent, values-driven and empowering compassionate leadership approach
• Continue the development of a collaborative, accountable and professional culture
• Promote positive behaviours at all levels where required with clarity and fairness
• Develop and support a high-performing senior leadership team

Financial and Commercial Sustainability:

• Strengthen the HFMA’s financial position and long-term sustainability.
• Evaluate and optimise revenue streams, including:
  • Events and commercial partnerships
  • Membership model
  • Education and development activity
• Ensure that commercial decisions are aligned with strategic purpose

Membership Value and Engagement:

• Maintain and enhance the value proposition for the HFMA members
• Ensure that the association continues to meet the needs of both current and future professionals
• Work with the team to consider the effectiveness and future role of different membership models

External Representation and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, including NHS England, Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and equivalent bodies across the UK
• Represent the HFMA with credibility and authority in external settings
• Ensure that the association operates as a trusted and constructive partner within the system

Policy and Sector Influence:

• Provide leadership in shaping the HFMA’s external voice and influence
• Balance constructive collaboration with the ability to reflect member perspectives
• Ensure that the HFMA contributes meaningfully to sector thinking and development

Governance and Board Engagement:

• Work closely with the Board to ensure strong governance and clarity of decision-making
• Provide clear advice, reporting and insight to support effective oversight
• Maintain appropriate boundaries between executive and non-executive roles

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Experience:

• Significant experience operating at senior executive level, with accountability for organisational performance and direction
• Demonstrated track record of developing and delivering strategy in a complex environment
• Experience of leading organisational change, including cultural and operational transformation
• Experience of working closely with a Board or equivalent governance body, including advising and influencing senior stakeholders and demonstrating the delivery of a strategic vision that is in line with a Board’s ambitions
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing executive or senior leadership teams.

Skills & Capabilities:

• Strong strategic thinking and vision with the ability to define priorities and make clear, evidence-based decisions
• Ability to balance competing organisational objectives, including purpose, financial sustainability and stakeholder expectations
• Sound commercial judgement and a demonstrable ability to interpret financial performance and inform strategic direction
• Highly effective stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build credibility at senior levels
• Ability to operate with confidence in politically and operationally complex environments.

Leadership Style & Personal Attributes:

• Values-driven approach, underpinned by integrity and consistency
• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to build trust quickly
• High level of emotional intelligence, with sound judgement in complex or sensitive situations
• Ability to lead with clarity while maintaining a supportive and empowering environment
• Willingness to take difficult decisions where required
• A visible and authentic leadership presence, capable of representing the organisation effectively. 

Qualifications & Professional Background:

• Evidence of continued professional development appropriate to a senior leadership role

Desirable:

• Experience operating across multiple organisational dimensions, such as:
  • Membership organisations
  • Charities or not-for-profit environments
  • Commercial or revenue-generating activity
• Experience engaging with public sector systems, particularly within healthcare or similarly complex, regulated environments
• Exposure to policy, advocacy or influencing activity at a national or system level
• Experience of balancing financial sustainability with member or stakeholder value delivery.
• Experience of developing or refining organisational value propositions, particularly in membership or service-led organisations
• Experience of diversifying or strengthening revenue models
• Ability to shape and articulate an external voice or thought leadership position for an organisation.
• Experience of leading organisations or teams through periods of transition or reset
• Personal resilience and adaptability in the face of ambiguity or change. 
• Engagement with any relevant professional bodies or sector networks

Required Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience
• Relevant professional qualification (finance, leadership, management or governance-related), and equivalent experiential background.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive, commensurate with experience

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the Bristol office and remotely

How to apply

• The preferred method of application is online. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 19th July 2026.
• If you are unable to apply online, please email your application to response.manager@ berwickpartners.co.uk. All applications will receive an automated response.
• If you have any queries or would like more information relating to this document, please contact: 
  • Thomas Ewen, Principal Consultant
  • D: 020 3970 1886
  • M: 07971 366 048
  • Email: [email protected]
• All candidates are also requested to complete an online Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form which will be found at the end of the application process. 

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