Job Description
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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:
1. Local Government
2. Central Government
3. Healthcare (NHS and private healthcare)
4. Defence
5. Infrastructure
Our Public Services Consulting are part of a wider Public Services Advisory group that also covers:
6. Transport
7. Net zero
8. Real Estate and Assets
9. 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:
10. Transformation & change – delivering improvement and transformation across the public sector, including financial improvement, finance function transformation and restructuring
11. Economy and major programmes – supporting the delivery of multi-million pound development programmes and procurements and providing support services to sectors
12. 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:
13. Support the development and implementation of the strategy for your sector – in this case healthcare
14. Demonstrate high quality and professional behaviour in the delivery of your work and challenge others to do the same
15. Demonstrate leadership to your team and inspire people to reach their potential
16. Ensure technical excellence, in particular around NHS finance and operations, and quality in the delivery of work in accordance with the firm’s guidelines
17. Ensure effective and efficient oversight of your team to deliver high quality work, as well as meeting financial targets
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. Embodying a quality culture, evidenced through active coaching of teams, praising good work and challenging poor work through everyday feedback
21. Make a significant contribution to business development, building relationships with people and organisations in your sector so they will become clients of the future.
22. Work with the partners and directors to build a more diverse PSA team
23. Create an inclusive culture and call out behaviours that are not inclusive
24. 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
25. Contribute and promote thought leadership pieces within your sector on a regular basis, working with sector and industry groups
26. Be aware of relevant sector or industry development that impact on the work of the team
27. Manage quality and risk in line with the firm’s policies and procedures
28. Act with integrity and in line with our organisational values
29. Embraces the firm’s core values in relation to diversity and inclusion, behaving in a way that is inclusive at all times
30. Achieve 'zone of affection' rating in client satisfaction scores for clients
31. 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:
32. Significant experience of working with or within NHS finance and operations
33. A deep knowledge and understanding of NHS finance, financial improvement and finance functions
34. A track record of leading the identification and delivery of cost improvement, efficiency and transformation programmes within the NHS
35. Strong analytical skills to analyse and triangulate finance, operational and workforce data
36. Use of benchmarking to target and identify areas for improvement
37. Working with, influencing and reporting to boards, executive, operational, workforce, medical, nursing and transformation/improvement teams
38. Working with and reporting to regulators
39. Establishing and supporting effective governance processes and reporting
40. Worked in teams where you have had line management/ oversight responsibilities
41. Evidence of taking ownership for setting and delivering team goals and monitoring individual programme targets
42. Strong understanding and demonstrable experience of financial, operational and quality issues within the N
43. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience of reporting and presenting to Boards, senior leadership groups and wider stakeholders
44. A commitment to diversity and inclusion
45. Good project management skills with a record of delivering projects to time, quality and financial deadlines
46. 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.
47. Business case writing and development
48. Delivering wholescale transformation of services
49. Data analysis and digital process improvement
50. Finance function consolidation and process change
51. Board leadership and governance assessments
52. Awareness of current policy and issues in the NHS
53. 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.