Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust are proud to announce that the Trust’s corporate finance team has won the Finance Team of the Year Award in this year’s East Midlands Healthcare Financial Management Awards (held on 10 November 2022). Two other awards were presented to individual Chris Poyser, Corporate Finance Manager, was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Contribution of the Year Award and Zoya Gina, Finance Apprentice, won Student of the Year Award.

The Healthcare Financial Management Association is the professional body for finance staff working in healthcare, providing independent support and guidance to its members and the wider healthcare community.

Chris was nominated for his role in the continuation of the Trust’s excellent track record of achieving the statutory financial duties and the excellent external audit report and feedback on the 2021/22 annual accounts. Despite the financial challenges and the implications of the pandemic, Chris encouraged new ways of working and innovation, particularly focusing on efficiency and automating financial functions, resulting in cost reductions to be reinvested in clinical services.

Sharon Murphy, director of finance, said: “Chris Poyser has worked for the Trust for a long time, and is a central figure in the finance team. He is very thorough and meticulous in his work, and I can always rely on his output. He maintained these high standards when he was in the acting deputy director of finance role, despite an increased workload and significant changes in the finance team due to multiple acting up arrangements being in place. He also supported many junior members of staff who were in new roles, ensuring that they were able to shine. His support to me as director of finance was unfaltering despite all the plates he was spinning.

Chris has the NHS at the core of his being, he is dedicated to its success, and has been throughout his long career.”

Zoya was nominated for making a huge impact on the whole Finance team with her dedication and commitment to the role and trust priorities. Within a short amount of time, Zoya has worked with various teams across the trust who highlighted her adaptable and ‘can do’ attitude.

Dawn Bennett, assistant finance manager for estates and facilities services, said: “Zoya is always willing and extremely capable member of the team, she has integrated almost seamlessly into the team at a time when it could have been difficult with the team predominantly working from home. She is accurate, always asks questions when she is not quite sure, and always gets things done within her deadlines. She’s organised, methodical and tells you when a job is complete. Her personality shines through and everything is done with a smile.”