Michael Barford Appointed as Chief Finance Officer of Southdown
Posted on 20 November 2024
Southdown is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Barford as its new Chief Finance Officer (CFO).
Michael joins Southdown with an extensive and diverse background in finance, spanning the health, social care, telecommunications, education, and charity sectors. He brings a wealth of senior leadership expertise in financial management, change initiatives, stakeholder relationships and governance, including recent experience working at interim CEO level.
Michael’s career began in manufacturing firms before he moved to the NHS, where he qualified as a Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) professional. Following three years as Deputy Finance Director for a community, mental health, and learning disabilities NHS trust, Michael moved to BT, where he spent seven years managing commercial finance and regulatory pricing in the network division. His career also includes experience as a regulatory director with a national communications company and communications regulation consultancy work with international clients.
In recent years, Michael has been focused on the health and social care charity sector. His most recent role was as Finance Director at Martlets Hospice in Hove, where he managed a major hospice build project and helped navigate the charity through significant financial challenges. This culminated in his position as interim Chief Executive, where he led Martlets through a merger with a neighbouring hospice charity.
Commenting on his appointment, Michael said: “I have long held Southdown in high regard, having known the organisation from my earlier work in the education charity sector. I am thrilled to join a team that shares my commitment to providing high-quality, person-centred services. I am passionate about leveraging my skills in the non-profit sector to support positive outcomes for people accessing Southdown’s services and colleagues alike.”
“In my role as CFO, I am committed to strengthening the organisation’s financial stability and working closely with Southdown’s Board and C-suite to develop our new Business Strategy. In addition, I aim to build strong relationships within the Southdown team by working collaboratively and empowering colleagues to achieve success and fulfilment in their roles.”
Commenting on the challenges currently facing the non-profit sector, Michael added, “Competing priorities for public resources continue to intensify, requiring organisations like Southdown to adapt, grow, and innovate. As we prepare for potential changes in the regulatory and funding landscape, we must stay flexible to protect and develop services, working collaboratively with partners to best support local communities we exist to support.”
Southdown warmly welcomes Michael Barford and is excited to benefit from his extensive experience and commitment to social impact as the organisation continues its mission of supporting individuals and communities across Sussex.
