Neal Shanks

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Services

Audit

Advisory

Our progressive thinkers offer services to help create, protect and transform value today, so you have opportunity to thrive tomorrow.

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Business Risk Services
Our Business Risk Services team deliver practical and pragmatic solutions that support clients in growing and protecting the inherent value of their businesses.
Corporate Finance and Deal Advisory
We offer a dedicated team of experienced individuals with a focus on successfully executing transactions for corporates and financial institutions. We offer an integrated approach, with our corporate finance specialists working seamlessly with tax and other specialists to ensure that every angle is covered.
Economic Advisory
Our all-island Economics Advisory team combines expertise in economics and business with a wealth of experience across the public and private sectors.
Forensic Accounting
We have a different way of doing business by delivering real insight through a combination of technical rigour, commercial experience and intuitive judgment. We take pride in delivering responsive and tailored solutions to all our clients, capitalising on the wealth of experience housed within our Belfast and wider Forensics team
People and Change Consulting
The Grant Thornton People & Change Consulting practice works with clients on these issues as well as on all aspects of how they attract, retain, engage develop, deploy and lead their people.
Restructuring
We work with a wide variety of clients and stakeholders such as high street banks, private equity funds, directors, government agencies and creditors to implement solutions which provide the best possible outcomes.
Technology Consulting
Motivating and assisting our clients to pursue, maintain and secure the benefits of digital solutions is at the core of our Digital Transformation teams' agenda and goals. We work with business leaders to deliver efficient digital strategies and operating models that provide new or enhanced capabilities.

Audit

Our audit services can strengthen your business and stakeholders' confidence. You'll receive professionally verified results and insights that help you grow.

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Tax

Our tax services help you gain trust and stay ahead, enabling you to manage your tax transparently and ethically.

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Corporate and International Tax
Northern Ireland businesses face further challenges as they operate in the only part of the UK that has a land border with a country offering a lower tax rate.
Employer Solutions
Our team specialises in remuneration and incentive planning and works closely with employers, shareholders and employees to ensure that business strategies are aligned and goals achieved in the most tax efficient, cost-effective manner.
Entrepreneur and Private Client Taxes
Our team of experienced advisors are on hand to guide you through any decision or transaction ranging from the establishment of new business ventures, to realising value on exit, to succession planning and providing for loved ones.
Global Mobility Services
Grant Thornton Ireland offer a different approach to managing global mobility. We have brought together specialists from our tax, global payroll, people and change and financial accounting teams across Ireland and Northern Ireland, while drawing on the knowledge and insights of our global network of over 143 offices of mobility professionals to provide you with a holistic approach to managing global mobility.
Outsourced Payroll
Our outsourced service provides valued service to over 150 separate PAYE schemes. These ranging from 1 to 1000 employees, working for micro, SME and global employers. The service is supported by the integrated network of tax and global mobility teams and the wider Grant Thornton network delivering a seamless service. Experienced staff deliver a personal service built around your business needs.
Tax Disputes and Investigations
Our Tax Disputes and Investigation team is made up of tax experts and former HMRC investigators who have years of experience in dealing with a variety of tax investigations. Our expertise and insight can guide you through all interactions, keeping your cost at a minimum while allowing you to continue with the day to day running of your business.
VAT and Indirect Taxes
At Grant Thornton (NI) LLP, our team helps Northern Ireland businesses manage their UK and global indirect tax risks which, as transactional taxes, can quickly become big liabilities.

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About us

Grant Thornton Ireland is rapidly approaching 3,000 people, in 9 offices across Ireland, Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Bermuda. With a presence in over 149...

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Experience

Neal joined Grant Thornton in 2020 with 18 years of financial services experience, having worked for 12 years in the banking sector and 6 years in corporate finance, most recently spending 3 years with a Big Four firm.

Neal is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of financial services experience, including 12 years in Banking and 8 years in Corporate Finance. His current role is Director in Corporate Finance and Head of Energy & Infrastructure (E&I) at Grant Thornton NI. Neal is also a Non-Executive Director (appointed November 2020) at Action Renewables Energy Trading Ltd, a company trading in excess of £50m of electricity and subsidies for clients, with all profits gifted to a parent charity to fund renewable energy projects across NI.

Sector Experience

Neal has advised on a wide range of E&I investments with a total value of £1.5bn. Lead advisory work includes transaction structuring, due diligence, funding advice and completion assistance (buy-side); and marketing, negotiation and completion assistance (sell-side). Selected experience below.

Neal’s recent experience includes:

Acquisition of a 28MW biomass plant providing electric and district heating;
Acquisition of a 19MW portfolio of 6 electric and gas-to-grid AD plants ;
Acquisition of a 277MW ready-to-build wind farm in Sweden;
Acquisition of 2 materials recycling facilities processing 250,000 tonnes of waste per annum;
Acquisition of a renewable energy management and operational services company;
Disposal of 9 electric AD plants, including a 3MW plant that is NI’s second largest and the world’s first to run on 100% chicken litter;
Provided advice to support a bid for three wind farms (170MW total capacity) in Norway/Sweden;
Provided advice to support a bid for a materials recycling facility processing 150,000 tonnes of waste per annum;
Completed a number of bioenergy business reviews, financial model reviews and valuations; and
Completed valuations for battery storage projects (50MW and 100MW/200MWh).

Qualifications

Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA)
Masters in Finance (MSc) from Queen’s University Belfast
Degree in Economics (BSc) from Queen’s University Belfast
Certificate in Responsible and Sustainable Finance (UCD)

Services

Deal Advisory

Industries

Energy & Cleantech

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Neal Shanks

Director - Deal Advisory

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