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 are 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 experts at 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.
About the role
We are seeking an exceptional Chief Operating and Commercial Officer to join CF’s senior leadership team. This is a pivotal, high‑impact position for an accomplished executive who can balance strategic vision with operational delivery.
Reporting to the CEO, the COCO will play a central role in driving CF’s next phase of growth, overseeing our commercial strategy, operational performance, and corporate functions (Finance, People, Operations, and Marketing). You will ensure that CF continues to scale efficiently, operate effectively, and deliver exceptional value to our clients.
This role is ideal for a commercially astute, hands‑on leader who thrives in a dynamic, purpose‑driven environment and who can confidently bridge business strategy with execution.
The role
As Chief Operating and Commercial Officer, you will lead across:
Strategic and operational leadership
* Shape and execute CF’s operating model across multiple practices and geographies, aligning business operations with strategic goals.
* Lead corporate functions to ensure seamless support across the organisation.
* Drive firm‑wide transformation initiatives, including the use of AI to enhance internal operations.
* Foster collaboration across teams, breaking down silos to maintain agility and efficiency.
* Support domestic and international growth strategies.
Financial and commercial leadership
* Partner with the CEO on financial strategy, planning, and business performance.
* Oversee financial operations, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
* Drive pricing strategy and margin optimisation across practices and geographies.
* Lead commercial strategy to support revenue growth and market expansion.
* Ensure robust governance, risk management, and financial controls.
People and culture
* Work closely with the Chief People Officer to scale CF’s people strategy, attracting and retaining top talent.
* Champion a performance‑driven, inclusive, and learning‑oriented culture.
* Shape workforce planning and organisational structure to support business growth.
* Support development frameworks and ensure teams are equipped to thrive.
Marketing and brand
* Collaborate with the Marketing team to refine brand positioning and go‑to‑market strategy.
* Strengthen CF’s presence across healthcare and life sciences through thought leadership and effective marketing campaigns.
About you
You are an experienced, authentic, and inspiring leader with a track record of delivering results in a professional services or partner‑led environment. You combine commercial acumen, operational discipline, and people leadership with a passion for purpose‑driven business.
You will bring:
* Proven senior leadership experience in a commercial and operational role within consultancy, professional services, or a high‑growth organisation.
* Deep understanding of financial management, operational excellence, and commercial growth.
* Strong strategic thinking and the ability to translate plans into practical action.
* Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire, influence, and build trust.
* Hands‑on approach with the agility to move between strategy, operations, and implementation.
Preferred experience:
* Experience scaling and managing growth in professional services.
* Exposure to healthcare or life sciences sectors.
* Experience supporting international expansion.
You will be joining a collaborative, purpose‑driven firm that is ambitious about its growth and proud of its culture. We’re known for our impact, our data‑led approach, and our investment in people.
At CF, you will have the freedom to lead, innovate, and shape the future of finance in a company that’s transforming health and healthcare; all while working alongside some of the brightest and most committed professionals in the field.
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 10 am until 4 pm 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.
* Holiday entitlement: 25 days/year for staff and 30 days/year for leadership, 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
* 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
Seniority level
* Director
Employment type
* Full‑time
Job function
* Finance and Accounting/Auditing
* Industries: Business Consulting and Services
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