the son of william carrington (died 1962) of blackpool, he was schooled at hebden bridge in yorkshire and then manchester grammar school. he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1926 and joined whinney, smith and whinney of london in 1928, becoming a partner in 1932. he was a senior partner of its successor, whinney murray and co. from 1967 to 1970. he was elected a member of the institute of chartered accountants in england and wales's council in 1942, sitting until 1968; he was the institute's president for the year 1955–56. he was also a member of the central valuation board under the coal nationalisation act 1946, a member of the tucker committees on taxation of trading profits, a member of the royal commission on taxation from 1951 to 1955 and a younger brother of trinity house in 1952. he was knighted in 1958. in 1932, he married dorothy mary, daughter of t. w. fabian, and they had one son.