Associate Director- Healthcare Consulting

Alternatively, Grant Thornton

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance. A true alternative.

With over 5,000 people in the UK, and a presence in 150 global markets, we're on an ambitious journey, from great to exceptional, and we need the best people to help us achieve our potential. And with that comes the opportunity to help redefine what our industry looks like, and what you want from your career.

Job Description:

Public Services Consulting

In Public Services Consulting , we have worked on some of the UK's largest and most high profile public sector clients, infrastructure projects and public policy programmes. At their core these assignments focused on creating value across the whole of the UK (and internationally) providing infrastructure and services that deliver economic and social benefits for current and future generations.  

Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities to do what is right and achieve their goals.  Our purpose is to make a difference by working hand in hand with our public and private sector clients on significant public sector projects and issues..  We are a team that has public service at its heart.  The team works both virtually and from seven Grant Thornton offices - London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds.

The team is made up of the following sectors and disciplines: 

• Local Government
• Central Government
• Healthcare (NHS and private healthcare)
• Defence
• Infrastructure

Our Public Services Consulting are part of a wider Public Services Advisory group that also covers:

• Transport  
• Net zero 
• Real Estate and Assets 
• Financial modelling and analytics 

As part of the firm’s wider consulting domain, the teams work closely with core consultancy functions across the firm, including business consulting and digital development.

Within Public Sector Consulting, work across our core sectors is across three domains:

• Transformation & change – delivering improvement and transformation across the public sector, including financial improvement, finance function transformation and restructuring
• Economy and major programmes – supporting the delivery of multi-million pound development programmes and procurements and providing support services to sectors
• Digital, data and insight – providing industry leading data analysis, platforms, improving data quality and implementing digital based solutions.

Our consulting teams seek to develop long-term partnerships with our clients in order to help them delivery key government policies, programmes and strategies on the ground. We work with clients across the public sector – as well as those looking to effectively engage with the public sector – to help them to make effective strategic decisions; improve their outcomes; optimise their operating and delivery models; deliver public sector reform; balance short-term financial challenges with medium term investment; and ensure value for money in all that they do.

We do this by working with clients across the policy lifecycle from identifying the need for change, to making the case for investment, to delivering the invention, to assessing the difference it has made. To do this effectively our multi-disciplinary team comprises analysts, accountants, economists and strategists. We have a senior and experienced team who have established our presence and credibility in this vital area of public service.  Because of that, successful candidates will have the opportunity to learn from a senior team that is one of the most experienced in the market.    

Here are some things you can expect from a role within Public Services Consulting:

• Developing and implementing strategy for Public Services Consulting and for our sectors

• Making quality second nature.  Ensures technical excellence and quality across the team in accordance with the firm’s guidelines 

• Develop and implement plans which will position us in the market place  – Lead from the front with-regards to develop proposals and delivering client work 

• Build, grow and inspire a market leading team – our success is dependent on our people and we need talent which is highly motivated, embraces continuous learning and resilient.   

• Build and develop a diverse team – our success and growth is dependent on our people that reflect the diverse communities and clients we serve 

• Create a team culture based on inclusion and excellence – seek out and appreciate people’s difference, embrace them and strive to minimise unconscious bias so that everyone can realise their full potential 

• Build your brand –Be known for excellence and clarity in communication both within Grant Thornton and with external stake holders 

We’re happy to talk flexible working and consider reduced hours and job shares, we’ll support you to balance your work and life.  

A look into the role

Our healthcare services are growing and expanding and we are looking for experienced healthcare professionals and leaders to support and drive the development of consulting services in the sector. We have established in the last 2 years a market leading position supporting the financial improvement and sustainability of NHS, working with NHS England, NHS Wales, NHS Trusts, Welsh Health Boards and Integrated Care Boards on a daily basis to improve their finances by delivering efficiency programmes and implementing strong financial governance.

As an Associate Director within Public Sector Consulting you will:  

• Support the development and implementation of the strategy for your sector – in this case healthcare
• Demonstrate high quality and professional behaviour in the delivery of your work and challenge others to do the same 
• Demonstrate leadership to your team and inspire people to reach their potential 
• Ensure technical excellence, in particular around NHS finance and operations, and quality in the delivery of work in accordance with the firm’s guidelines
• Ensure effective and efficient oversight of your team to deliver high quality work, as well as meeting financial targets 
• Support the partner and director group to lead complex projects, building strong relationships with client, bringing in the most relevant Grant Thornton people for the work where relevant with or external partners, and deliver high quality client service. 
• Support the partner and director group on complex proposals through effective business development activities and the development of winning bids.  Embed a learning culture in the development of proposals and begin to demonstrate the ability to lead proposals with less support. 
• Embodying a quality culture, evidenced through active coaching of teams, praising good work and challenging poor work through everyday feedback
• Make a significant contribution to business development, building relationships with people and organisations in your sector so they will become clients of the future. 
• Work with the partners and directors to build a more diverse PSA team  
• Create an inclusive culture and call out behaviours that are not inclusive 
• Build and maintain a network in your sector and across Grant Thornton, ensuring your areas of expertise are known across the firm and that you will capitalise on opportunities the wider firm 
• Contribute and promote thought leadership pieces within your sector on a regular basis, working with sector and industry groups
• Be aware of relevant sector or industry development that impact on the work of the team 
• Manage quality and risk in line with the firm’s policies and procedures 
• Act with integrity and in line with our organisational values 
• Embraces the firm’s core values in relation to diversity and inclusion, behaving in a way that is inclusive at all times 
• Achieve 'zone of affection' rating in client satisfaction scores for clients 
• Do what is right, not what is easy    

Knowing you're right for us

As an Associate Director, the minimum criteria you’ll need are a university qualification or relevant experience. A professional accountancy qualification (e.g. ACA, CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA ) is essential for the role due to its strong financial focus and you will have: 

• Significant experience of working with or within NHS finance and operations
• A deep knowledge and understanding of NHS finance, financial improvement and finance functions  
• A track record of leading the identification and delivery of cost improvement, efficiency and transformation programmes within the NHS
• Strong analytical skills to analyse and triangulate finance, operational and workforce data
• Use of benchmarking to target and identify areas for improvement
• Working with, influencing and reporting to boards, executive, operational, workforce, medical, nursing and transformation/improvement teams

• Working with and reporting to regulators
• Establishing and supporting effective governance processes and reporting
• Worked in teams where you have had line management/ oversight responsibilities 
• Evidence of taking ownership for setting and delivering team goals and monitoring individual programme targets
• Strong understanding and demonstrable experience of financial, operational and quality issues within the N
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience of reporting and presenting to Boards, senior leadership groups and wider stakeholders
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion  
• Good project management skills with a record of delivering projects to time, quality and financial deadlines 
• Good inter-personal skills with the ability to build and develop networks, internally and externally

It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box, we’ll help you develop along the way.  

• Business case writing and development
• Delivering wholescale transformation of services
• Data analysis and digital process improvement
• Finance function consolidation and process change
• Board leadership and governance assessments
• Awareness of current policy and issues in the NHS
• Wider experience and knowledge of other public services

Knowing we’re right for you

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone.  Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.

Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work. 

Beyond the job  

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.