Alumni - Finance Management

James Rimmer
Liverpool John Moore’s University – Accounting & Finance BA (Hons) 2001 Associate Director of Finance and contracting, Southampton City PCT Community Services.

Graduate Management Scheme Trainee in 2001
Current role, Associate Director of Finance and Contracting for Southampton City PCT Community Services

“I looked at a number of graduate jobs, but many lacked the potential to reach senior management positions. We are all users of the NHS and the excitement of working for such a big and complex organisation was a real pull, as was the ability to influence and change things which would have a real impact upon people’s lives.”

James joined the NHS in September 2001. His first placement on the Graduate Training Scheme was as a finance assistant at Southampton University Hospital Trust, with the Medicine and Elderly Care team which was located just near the wards. “Being located near to the doctors, nurses and patients really helped me understand just how important support services such as finance can help deliver services.”

James currently manages all of the financial and contracting aspects of the PCTs Community Services, with a budget of £81m covering many areas from district nursing and health visiting to running 100 bedded community hospital sites. “Currently we are working with the Department of Health as part of a pilot to become Community Services Foundation Trusts. I’m leading on managing the financial implications. It’s a really exciting opportunity to become one of the first of these organisations in the country.”

James believes the NHS is good at trying to ‘bring people on’ and give them opportunities. It has helped him progress to a high level in a short space of time.

“I have held various senior roles since I graduated from the scheme, and led on many exciting projects which have seen me presenting at very senior level. I’ve even helped to secure Local Improvement Finance Trust Status (LIFT), which will lead to the construction of a large acute mental health hospital and primary care delivery centre at a cost of over £40m.”

Within the next 5 years James hopes to be an experienced Director of Finance and is looking to stay in the NHS for as long as he can, as ”the opportunities to progress are really good.”

Katie Coulson
Kent University, Maths, Accounting & Finance (2006)
Financial Management Trainee

Katie joined the Graduate scheme in September ‘06 and is currently on a placement in Management Accounts: “You spend time in different areas such as Audit, Management accounts and Financial accounts, as well as a placement in a PCT, in the SHA and on Orientation meeting hospital nurses in the A&E dept etc. The structure of the scheme may change depending on workload as it’s very reactive. For example, if someone leaves you may take on their work, and if a complex job comes in the accountant may get you involved in this. It’s all down to you using your own initiative.”

Katie has family who work for the NHS, all of whom have good things to say about it, and she found out about the scheme through her mum! “I wanted to work somewhere where I’d make a difference, not for a company to make them a profit! Another attraction was that you work towards your CIMA/CIPFA qualification while on the scheme, which the NHS pays for, and you also get generous study leave and holidays.

“Passing my exams and generally being more aware of how the NHS is run and how complex the delivery of the service is has been a particular highlight so far” says Katie. She hopes to complete the scheme, pass all her exams and be on her way to Assistant Director of Finance level in the next five years.”

Shahid Ahmed
University of Salford – Finance & Accounting (2003)
Financial Management Trainee

A Finance & Accounting graduate of the University of Salford, Shahid graduated in July 2003 and joined the NHS in January 2004, as a Costing & Income Officer at Pennine Acute NHS Trust.

“It was the visible link between finance and patient care and the opportunity to make a difference that drew me to the NHS. This job gave me a good insight into the NHS and I realised this is where I wanted to progress with my career. And there’s lots of room to progress within the NHS.”

On the Scheme, day-to-day responsibilities vary according to placements - his first finance placement was at Bolton PCT.

“Combining the requirements of a full-time job, study and exams for a professional qualification and still being able to spend time with my 2 daughters is some achievement!” says Shahid. “I also like to play football and read, but this is somewhat rare – I find I read for necessity rather than pleasure! But it will all be worth it. The Scheme provides the perfect platform for trainees to go on to senior NHS posts. With the expertise and skills developed on the Scheme, it is not unrealistic to be able to reach senior posts. In 5 years’ time I hope to be on track to a Director of Finance role within the NHS.”