New finance lead joins NHS in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board has appointed a new interim Chief Finance Officer.

Claire Finn will join the ICB board in June following completion of all HR processes and brings with her more than 20 years’ experience of working in NHS finance.

Most recently, Claire joined Derbyshire ICB as Interim Chief Finance Officer in November 2024 from University Hospitals Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust where she was also their interim Chief Finance Officer. She has also been Director of Finance at West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and has carried out senior roles in commissioning, acute, specialist provider and regulatory organisations.

As Chief Finance Officer for NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB, Claire will support the organisation to meet the financial targets set by NHS England, as outlined in the ICB Reform programme, including living within the overall revenue and capital allocation.

Claire will also be the lead financial executive for the NHS system locally and work in partnership with colleagues to ensure the Integrated Care System (ICS) delivers its challenging financial plan for this year.

In welcoming Claire to Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB, Peter Axon, Chief Executive Officer, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Claire to the ICB. Claire is a hugely experienced Chief Finance Officer with wide experience across the NHS and will be a great asset to our board.”

The appointment follows the announcement earlier this year that Paul Brown, the current Chief Finance Officer, will step down in the summer after five years in the role.