Senior NHS finance leadership when decisions are complex, urgent, and closely scrutinised.

Henry James Consultancy Services was established by Richard Harvey FCMA, MBA in 2013 to support NHS and public-sector organisations with financial recovery, investment cases and complex delivery.

Richard is a former NHS Chief Financial Officer with more than twenty years’ experience across acute, community, mental health, ambulance and commissioning organisations. He works with Boards, Chief Executives, CFOs and Programme SROs when financial judgement, delivery grip and stakeholder confidence matter.

He brings the strategic insight of a CFO and the practical discipline of a programme delivery lead.

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Engaged when

Financial recovery needs grip

Cost improvement plans need to move from ambition to deliverable schemes, clear reporting and credible year-end forecasts.

A business case must pass scrutiny

Major capital, digital or service-change proposals need Green Book discipline, stakeholder alignment and approval through NHS England, DHSC or HM Treasury routes.

A new venture needs financial foundations

Emerging programmes and services need pricing, costings, budgetary control, commercial disciplines and a credible route to self-sufficiency.

Partners need shared financial insight

Multi-organisation systems need a common view of demand, service configuration, profitability, cost impact and investment or disinvestment choices.

A senior team needs capacity

Finance teams need experienced interim support during prolonged absence, recruitment gaps or periods of exceptional organisational pressure.

What the practice offers

Restoring financial grip

Cost improvement plan identification, development, monitoring and reporting; in-year deficit recovery; improved forecasting; and the control processes needed for sustained financial performance.

Securing business case approval

Strategic Outline, Outline and Full Business Cases that meet NHSE, DHSC and HM Treasury requirements, from early stakeholder engagement through to investment committee and funding approval.

Leading complex delivery

Programme direction for major capital, digital and transformation work, including programme infrastructure, workstreams, governance, risk management and benefits realisation.

Building commercial financial models

Service-line costings, pricing models, value-return mechanisms, budgetary control and performance insight for new ventures moving from central funding to independent sustainability.

Creating service-line insight

Financial analysis across specialties and services, including PLICS and service-line reporting, profitability review, income recovery, tariff analysis and resource-use insight.

Providing senior finance capacity

Interim CFO, deputy director and senior finance support for organisations needing a safe pair of hands during absence, recruitment gaps, turnaround or regulator scrutiny.

Approach

Richard works hands-on and collaboratively, building trust across executives, clinicians, finance teams, technical teams and system partners. His work is designed to leave decision-makers with clearer choices, stronger controls, better evidence and financial frameworks that can be owned by the in-house team.

Selected engagements

Programme Director — Investing in Our Future

Isle of Wight NHS Trust · 2020–2024

Led the Trust’s £50m+ capital and digital investment programme from Strategic Outline Case through delivery. Secured Board, NHSE, DHSC and HM Treasury approvals; delivered two Outline Business Cases and two Full Business Cases; and attended the Treasury Joint Investment Sub-Committee to secure funding. Established the programme infrastructure, workstreams and governance needed for delivery, with the programme achieving a Green DHSC Gateway 4 Readiness for Service rating.

Interim Chief Financial Officer

NHS South Commissioning Support Unit · Start-up phase

Developed the financial architecture for an NHS Commissioning Support Unit during establishment, including the financial elements of the integrated business plan, service-line costings, pricing models, finance structures, budgetary control and performance insight. Worked with the executive team on commercial bids and helped create the disciplines required for a start-up organisation to become financially self-sufficient.

Strategic Financial Advisor

St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · 2016–2018

Supported a large acute teaching hospital through significant organisational challenge: turnover c.£800m, deficit £80m and CIP £50m. Advised on identification, development, monitoring and reporting of the cost improvement plan; provided financial input to large-scale service transformation; used benchmarking and Model Hospital analysis to drive improvement; and helped the in-house team build financial sustainability capability.

Strategic Financial Advisor

Isle of Wight NHS Trust · 2018–2020

Reviewed the Trust’s £8m Cost Improvement Plan, including scheme composition, delivery confidence and monitoring arrangements. Recommended actions to maximise in-year delivery and establish a robust CIP process for the following year. Reviewed financial forecasts, identified actions to minimise year-end deficit, and supported the CFO through the CQC ‘Well Led’ assessment.

System Finance Consultant

Isle of Wight NHS Trust & local CCG · 2014–2016

Jointly commissioned by the Trust and CCG to validate profit and loss information across Acute, Community, Mental Health and Ambulance Services. Developed definitions, principles and methodology for assessing the cost impact of demand change and service reconfiguration. Led an in-depth clinical service financial review whose approach was subsequently rolled out to more than twenty services with clinical consultants, service managers, finance and information staff.

Service Line Reporting Advisor

University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust · Service-line review

Reviewed Patient Level Information and Costing System and service-line reporting information, working with clinicians to understand whether profitability variation was driven by national tariff, income and cost allocation, or resource use. Led a detailed review of General Surgery and sub-specialties, creating a framework that could be applied to other services.

Deputy Director of Finance Cover

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust · 2014

Covered the Deputy Director of Finance role while a substantive appointment was made. Reviewed and rewrote the financial plan, improved monthly reporting, integrated the cost improvement programme within Finance and recommended changes to the finance function structure. Later returned to implement a Financial Information and Systems Strategy that improved operational efficiency and integrated performance information for end users.

Credentials

FCMA Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
MBA University of Southampton
CIMA Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, qualified 2002

Recommendations

“Richard definitely made a real difference at St George’s and brought a level of skill, experience and challenge which massively supported our agenda during significant financial challenge.”

Andrew Grimshaw, Chief Financial Officer, St George’s NHS Foundation Trust

“He has successfully worked across organisational boundaries, securing engagement and developing the knowledge that we require to make strategic decisions.”

Loretta Outhwaite, CCG Chief Financial Officer

“During this critical period of change Richard provided key support and I can recommend him on the basis of his experience, technical competence and professionalism.”

Ben Lloyd, Director of Finance/Deputy Chief Executive, Portsmouth Hospitals

“The project progressed swiftly keeping both to budget and to timescale. Significant clinical engagement was achieved with some excellent feedback from senior budget holders, consultants and Board members.”

Ben Lloyd, Director of Finance/Deputy Chief Executive, Portsmouth Hospitals

Contact

Send a brief enquiry and Richard will respond directly.

LinkedIn: Richard Harvey on LinkedIn
Registered office: Exchange House, St Cross Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5BZ