Carnall Farrar (CF) is a growing consultancy which works across all aspects of the health sector from supporting the NHS to serving major life science companies. We are passionate about, and experts in, health and healthcare.

Founded in 2013 we have grown to a core staff base of management consultants, technical consultants, a data operations team and corporate functions. We have a strong reputation with the NHS, and our actively seeking to spread awareness of our brand and offers across the health sector more broadly. We are highly regarded both internally and externally for the level of support and development we give our people. As a professional services business, CF has three primary assets – its people, its knowledge and its data and associated products.  

Our purpose 

To have enduring positive impact on health and healthcare 

Our mission 

To be invaluable to our clients, supporting them to innovate and make lasting improvements and to build an exceptional company that attracts, develops, and retains a trusted and uniquely talented team. 

Our strategic intent 

We are focussed on building the leading consulting company dedicated to the health sector. We serve the entire sector including healthcare systems (providers, payors, regulators), life sciences (pharma, biotech, devices, and diagnostics), health investing, health tech (data, digital and apps) and the wider suppliers to the sector (infrastructure, consumables and supporting services). Our clients include public sector organisations, private sector companies and investors.  

We provide consultancy across a broad spectrum of services, which reflect the expertise of the CF leadership team and their ability to act as trusted advisors to chief executives, directors, and boards on the most important issues they face. We help organisations to improve population health and the effectiveness of life sciences and healthcare through understanding their aspirations, helping them to identify the opportunities to create value, spotting and applying innovation in practice, adopting best-in-class management approaches and providing hands-on support to deliver improvements.    

Our consulting is renowned for its use of data and the insights this creates. We have access to more UK healthcare data than any other company and are expert it its safe use for delivering healthcare, improving health, managing services, supporting uptake of innovation, undertaking research, and generating evidence. Our access to data and our engineering and data science capabilities supports our consulting, and they are also available for direct client services including in multidisciplinary teams.  

We are growing a team of expert consultants who want to be at the leading edge of the profession and who have a passion for health. With structured career development from Analyst to Partner in a model of apprenticeship, mentorship, and formal training alongside opportunities to work in industry we are cultivating the leaders of the future. We support future leaders to grow and develop their own unique focus that builds on their expertise, our capabilities and creates value for our clients. 

Role summary

The Finance Director plays a pivotal role in driving financial performance and efficiency across our firm. This position is responsible for overseeing the financial planning, financial reporting, compliance and strategic support to the leadership team.

Responsibilities

The requirements, responsibilities and duties of the role will include, but are not limited to:

Strategic financial leadership

Financial strategies: Collaborate with the Board and Senior Leadership Team to develop, refine, and implement financial strategies aligned to our business objectives.

Financial insights: Provide financial analysis and insights to support strategic initiatives including pricing models and tracking profitability.

Financial planning: Working together with the Head of Operations, Planning and Reporting to align financial planning with operations and forecast planning.

OKRs development: Define and track key company Objective Key Results (OKRs) for financial performance and effectiveness, ensuring that the Board and leadership have a clear understanding of progress towards objectives.

Financial management and oversight

Budgeting and forecasting: Lead the development of annual budgets, monthly forecasts, and long-term financial projections, ensuring alignment with the company’s business plan and strategic goals. Creation of monthly budget statements for all budget holders across the organisation.

Financial reporting: Prepare and present accurate and timely financial statements and management reports, highlighting financial performance, variances, and key trends. Provide actionable insights and recommendations to the Board and Senior Leadership Team.

Cash flow and working capital management: Oversee cash flow forecasting and working capital management to ensure the business has sufficient liquidity. Monitor and optimise accounts receivable, accounts payable, and overall cash flow.

Cost control and profitability: Ensure effective cost control measures are in place and that the organisation’s resources are used efficiently. Provide analysis on costs, profit margins, and opportunities for margin improvement and engage with the CF leadership team to ensure optimal cost management.

Compliance and governance

Regulatory compliance: Ensure that the CF complies with all relevant financial regulations and reporting requirements, including tax filings and corporate governance.

Audit management: Manage the annual audit process, liaising with external auditors to ensure compliance and timely completion.

Internal controls: Maintain robust financial controls, processes, and systems to safeguard the organisation's assets and ensure accurate financial reporting.

Risk management: Ensure robust financial controls and risk management practices are in place and mitigate financial risks across the business.

Commercial and reporting

Financial reporting: Manage the financial monthly reporting process supporting the creation of the IPR (Integrated Performance Report) working closely with the Head of Operations, Planning and Reporting and the Heads of Business Development. This is to include the monitoring of KPIs and profitability ensuring performance and effectiveness of business, maximising use of our management information systems.

Business development teams: Support BD teams with pricing strategies and margin analysis.

Systems and process improvement

Process optimisation: Identify opportunities to streamline and improve processes, systems, and reporting tools. Implement best practices to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance operational data accuracy.

Technology leadership: Oversee the selection and implementation of financial information systems and software tools that improve the efficiency of financial management.

Advisory role to the Board and Senior Leadership Team

Board and Executive Operating Committee support: Advise the Board and Senior Leadership Team on financial performance.

Business strategy: Provide insights to shape corporate strategy and support strategy refreshes, offering financial.

Leadership and development

Team leadership and development: Lead, manage, and develop the team to ensure that it has the skills, capabilities, and capacity to support the needs of the business. Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the function.

Cross-team collaboration: Work closely with other all other teams to ensure financial alignment and strategic planning. Provide overall leadership to management information developing efficient and standardised approaches across the different teams in the organisation, maximising our MI systems and peoples access to live reports / information.

Requirements

Mandatory:

Qualified CIMA/ACCA accountant

Demonstrable commercial acumen

Proven experience in a senior finance role within a management consulting or professional services environment.

Track record of delivering data-driven operational decision-making, scenario modeling, and operational and financial strategy development

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, able to distill complex data into actionable insights

Exceptional verbal and written communication, producing and presenting high quality materials, ensuring often complex concepts are digestible to all

Ability to delegate efficiently

Proven ability to work effectively with senior leadership

Proficiency in financial systems (e.g., Xero or similar) and advanced Excel skills.

Preferred Experience:

Background in consultancy or a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Familiarity with healthcare or life sciences sectors. Proficiency in management information systems (ideally CMAP) and advanced Excel modelling.

Flexible working

We follow a hybrid working model that balances in person connections and remote work to drive exceptional client impact. We enjoy working in person together with clients and colleagues and work where clients need us to be.

In supporting flexibility and remote working, team members can work from home one day per week as standard. Additionally, we offer 44 remote working days per year which can be used to top up your working from home days and enable you to work from home up to two days per week-subject to client needs. Alternatively, you could use your allowance in blocks to manage school holidays or other commitments. Our core in person working hours are from 10am until 4pm allowing you that extra flexibility to manage your schedule in a way that works for you.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building an inclusive and supportive culture where diversity thrives, and all our people can excel. We only recruit, promote and reward our people based on their skills and contribution, without regard to gender, race, disability, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or other characteristics.

We are Disability Confident Accredited, and we want you to feel comfortable and able to perform at your best in the recruitment process, if you require any reasonable adjustments for any part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

What benefits would you get?

Holiday entitlement: 25 days/year for staff and 30 days/ year for leadership (Manager role included), increasing by 1 day for every year of service up to a maximum of 35 days of holiday per year
We contribute 7% of your salary into your pension, while you contribute 3% (or more if you like)
Access to a flexible benefits programme giving you the chance to increase pension contributions, gain access to a cash plan or benefit from a ClassPass subscription
Annual leave purchase: employees with less than 35 days annual leave entitlement are able to purchase additional annual leave days
Income protection: in the event of long-term incapacity and a qualifying claim, 75% of salary will be paid
Enhanced sick pay benefit beyond Statutory Sick Pay for up to a total 12 weeks in any 12-month period
Life insurance covering four times your basic salary in a tax-free lump sum payable to your beneficiaries in the event of your death whilst in service
Enhanced family leave policies: additional pay for parents who have a baby or adopt
Access to an interest free loan of up to £10,000
Access to an interest-free season ticket loan, repayable by 12 monthly instalments
Workplace nursery scheme: access to a scheme to help working parents save tax and NI on the cost of the nursery care
Flexible working policy: including the ability to work fully remotely for up to 4 weeks a year
An employee assistance and wellness Program: including access to telephone counselling, life coaching, interactive tools online and digital content downloadable from Lifeworks
Seasonal flu jabs: provided by Boots annually
Eye care tests: vouchers and discounts at Vision Express
Ride to work scheme, saving up to 42% on bikes and cycling accessories at Evans Cycles
Membership to the Health Service Journal (HSJ)

Carnall Farrar

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