PA Consulting is a global professional services organization that believes in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our interdisciplinary teams combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster, helping clients adapt and transform, achieving enduring results. We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers and technologists with deep expertise across consumer & manufacturing, defence & security, energy & utilities, financial services, government & public services, health & life sciences, and transport. Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics and Netherlands.

Purpose of the Role and Overview

The Commercial Finance Manager (CFM) partners with the Consulting business and Sector Operating Units to deliver real‑time financial insight, strategic guidance and commercial support. Acting as a trusted advisor, the CFM collaborates closely with unit leadership to influence decision‑making and drive value across bids, contracts, pricing, team structures and operational delivery. The role ensures financial rigor and commercial effectiveness through accurate, timely reporting of weekly and monthly results, variance analysis, quarterly forecasts and annual budgets. The CFM leads ad‑hoc financial analysis and contributes to strategic projects that support business growth and performance.

Reporting into Corporate Finance and the CFO, the CFM operates across multiple business functions and engages regularly with senior stakeholders, offering high visibility and influence within the organisation.

What It Takes to Be a Great Commercial Finance Manager

• Strategic Influence: Actively shape business decisions and strategy by delivering timely, relevant commercial and industry insights.
• Business Partnering: Operate as a trusted advisor and translator between Corporate and Consulting Units, aligning financial priorities with operational goals.
• Commercial Awareness: Anticipate and respond to evolving needs of both business units and corporate stakeholders.
• Leadership & Communication: Demonstrate strong influencing skills, stakeholder engagement and the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively.
• Data‑Driven Insight: Interpret and assess large‑scale and granular data using appropriate analytical tools, tailoring outputs to diverse audiences.
• Ethical Judgment: Uphold integrity, form well‑reasoned opinions and stand by them with professionalism and conviction.
• Resilience & Agility: Thrive under pressure, adapt quickly to changing demands and maintain focus on detail while managing ambiguity.
• Forward Thinking: Learn from past performance while proactively identifying risks and opportunities ahead of time.
• Credibility & Passion: Represent the CFO and organisation with professionalism, enthusiasm and a commitment to excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Partnering

• Deliver forward‑looking financial analysis and performance reporting at client and Go‑to‑Market (GtM) levels.
• Present insights to stakeholders in impactful formats, driving action and value through meaningful engagement.
• Educate Unit Leads, Partners and Consultants on financial principles and commercial acumen.
• Lead workshops on finance topics such as bid modelling, the PA model and value creation strategies.
• Provide commercial risk management support, including open‑book reporting and high‑risk assignment reviews.
• Engage across the full lifecycle of service delivery—from bid modelling to job closure—ensuring sound financial setup, pricing and risk mitigation.

Financial Planning & Reporting

• Deliver weekly, monthly and quarterly performance reporting with variance analysis and actionable insights.
• Lead forecasting, budgeting and sensitivity modelling for business units and leadership.
• Perform earned‑value analysis to ensure accurate revenue and profit recognition.

Revenue & Profitability Oversight

• Monitor job profitability against bid projections and advise on corrective actions.
• Oversee job setup, invoicing, payment terms and debt collection to manage working capital.
• Review subcontractor arrangements and ensure accuracy in P2P processes.

Commercial & Risk Management

• Actively manage contract risk portfolios, raising concerns and proposing commercially sound solutions.
• Advise on non‑routine financial matters including currency exposure, taxation and interest implications.

Audit Preparation & Compliance

• Lead internal audit readiness by preparing documentation, reconciling financial data and ensuring compliance with internal controls.
• Support external audit cycles, including the preparation of IFRS templates and coordination with auditors.
• Ensure all financial activities are SOX compliant and follow established processes and policies.
• Oversee subcontractor arrangements and P2P processes to ensure audit trail integrity and financial accuracy.

Risk & Controls Oversight

• Actively manage contract risk portfolios, flagging concerns and proposing commercially sound solutions.
• Monitor expense and cost anomalies, investigate out‑of‑policy spend and implement corrective actions.
• Provide commercial risk management support for high‑risk assignments and open‑book reporting.

Hybrid working – our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of two days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment.

Qualifications

• The equivalent of a UK 2:1 degree
• Qualified Accountant or CIMA, ACCA, ACA

Experience

• Experience in dealing with and influencing senior stakeholders, excellent interpersonal skills required
• Experience at managing cross‑function/business relationships at all levels within an organisation is desirable
• Strong commercial acumen and awareness
• Advanced Excel skills and data analysis
• Previous experience in a global professional services environment or within UK Government is desirable
• Previous line management experience

We know the skill‑gap and ‘somewhat need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply – we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today by completing our online application

Please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance.

All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard; however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least five years of continuous residency in the UK.

We therefore ask that you only apply if you meet the residency requirements (i.e. you are a British citizen or have been resident in the UK for the past five years), as this is the prerequisite for a security clearance. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to review the UK Government’s guidance on security vetting before applying.

Seniority level

• Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

• Full‑time

Job function

• Finance and Sales

• Business Consulting and Services

Life At PA encompasses our peoples’ experience at PA. It’s about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose‑led meaningful work.

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We’re focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well‑being of our people.

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from under‑represented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations – Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on recruitmentenquiries@paconsulting.com