Posted on: 15 October 2025
CNWL’s Finance Team has been shortlisted for Finance Team of the Year at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) London Regional Conference, and one of their own, Ayesha Alam, is up for the Rising Star award.
The HFMA Awards celebrate excellence in NHS finance, recognising the role of teams in driving good governance, as well as engaging clinicians and services in financial management.
A double celebration for CNWL
Cynthia Fernandez, Deputy Chief Finance Director, said:
“I’m incredibly proud of our finance team for being shortlisted for Finance Team of the Year, and delighted to see Ayesha recognised as a Rising Star. These nominations reflect the dedication, professionalism, and innovation shown every day by our colleagues in supporting CNWL services. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the hard work and commitment of our team.”
From school leaver to rising star
Ayesha joined CNWL’s Finance Team in 2023 straight after completing her A Levels, as part of the Trust’s Insight Placement Scheme.
She now has a permanent role as a Finance Assistant, studying towards her Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification (having already completed seven exams), and managing key financial responsibilities that once sat with more senior colleagues.
“When I first joined, I honestly didn’t know much about finance,” Ayesha said. “But over the past two years I’ve learned so much and grown both personally and professionally. It’s all thanks to the scheme and the amazing finance team I get to work with every day. They’ve been so supportive and have taught me so much along the way.”
She’s taken ownership of managing CNWL’s portfolio of NHS property leases and created new ways of logging and recharging service costs to make things clearer for budget holders.
Beyond her day-to-day work, Ayesha also chairs the Finance Department Connect Forum, bringing together junior staff and students to share ideas, support one another and suggest improvements to the department.
Her manager, Charlie Davidson, said:
“Your dedication, hard work and ability to manage both your role and studies is truly inspiring. You always get the job done with professionalism and a positive attitude. It’s an absolute pleasure to have you as part of the finance team. We are all incredibly proud of you and cheering you on!”