CPD for NHS and Healthcare Finance Professionals: What You Need to Know

Finance in the NHS

The NHS is one of the UK's largest employers of finance professionals, with approximately 15,000 finance staff across NHS trusts, integrated care boards, NHS England, and arm's length bodies. Finance professionals in the NHS face a unique combination of public sector accountability requirements, NHS-specific financial frameworks (the NHS Finance Manual, DHSC group accounts guidance), and the same professional CPD obligations as colleagues in the private sector.

CPD Obligations for NHS Finance Staff

ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, and CIPFA members working in the NHS are subject to the same professional body CPD requirements as members elsewhere. ACCA requires a minimum of 40 CPD units per year; CIMA uses a competency-based approach; CIPFA requires structured CPD through its Member Development Programme. In addition, NHS finance staff are typically expected to participate in the Finance Skills Development (FSD) programme run by HFMA and NHS England.

NHS-Specific Development: Finance Skills Development (FSD)

The Finance Skills Development (FSD) framework provides a structured development pathway for NHS finance staff from entry level through to director of finance. The framework covers technical finance skills, NHS-specific knowledge (NHS accounting standards, capital accounting, costing), and leadership. NHS finance directors are typically expected to have completed relevant FSD development and hold a recognised professional qualification (CIPFA, CCAB, or equivalent).

Key Technical Areas for NHS Finance CPD

International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the NHS (DHSC group accounts use modified UK-adopted IFRS), capital accounting and the NHS capital regime, NHS costing and payment by results, Integrated Care System (ICS) financial planning, IFRS 16 implementation in the NHS context (the NHS adopted IFRS 16 in 2022/23), and climate-related disclosures under the Greening Government Commitments.

CIPFA for NHS Finance

CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) is the qualification of choice for many NHS finance directors and senior finance managers. It combines professional accounting training with public sector-specific content - local government finance, NHS finance, and government accounting. CIPFA members have a distinct advantage in NHS director of finance roles.

Further Reading

• CPD Overview
• Public Sector Finance Guide
• CIPFA Qualification Guide

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