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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Confusion still reigns within SMEs in relation to what Private Equity does and their approach to investment companies. At a recent funding event one private equity provider described PE as “neither the devil nor Mother Teresa”. The image of the Gordon Gekko Wall Street asset stripper has thankfully passed but work remains for the Northern Ireland Corporate Finance community and the Private Equity sector themselves in promoting the benefits of private equity.
In the last two years we have seen an increase in the number of private equity deals in Northern Ireland and we now have a wider spread and variety of funders. It is clear that there are plenty of funds available for investment and private equity firms are having to stretch further in relation to geography and deal size to secure transactions.
Often the misconception is that private equity is only interested in the technology sector. Whilst this sector has seen significant investment, particularly from venture capital, private equity’s interest goes well beyond this sector. Recent transactions include Business Growth Fund’s investment in RiverRidge, Foresight Capital’s investment in Hospital Services and Sun Capital’s investment in O&S Doors – all more traditional sectors but with the characteristics of strong management teams, excellent growth stories and a track record of execution.
Grant Thornton’s experience of delivering the Funding for Growth initiative on behalf of Intertrade Ireland has resulted in over 400 discussions with SMEs across the island of Ireland. There remains a large number of businesses with ambition to grow and seeking funding, however sometimes more planning and focus is required if businesses are to achieve successful outcomes. First impressions of your business are critical especially in an environment where funders are making quick decisions on where they will focus their efforts.
Fundraising can also be a distracting process for management and the risk remains that performance suffers just at the time when it is important to show sustained growth. Securing the services of advisors at an early stage will help promote the business as an investment opportunity and will make the fundraising process more efficient by accessing the right funders at the right time.
Throughout 2017 and beyond Grant Thornton predict that the level of private equity investments in Northern Ireland will increase – steady growth rather than an avalanche of deals. Short term challenges particularly around Brexit, currency fluctuation etc. will be outweighed by the need to deploy capital by private equity, the backlog in MBO opportunities that currently exists, and the evolution of secondary buyout opportunities from early stage invested companies.
The recent BVCA Award Dinner sponsored by Grant Thornton attracted a range of private equity funders and potential investee businesses. The clear message was a willingness to do more in the market and promote the wider benefits of the private equity option.
Private equity investment is not a panacea for all, but for those SME’s with ambitious growth plans the potential of targeted PE funding should be on the agenda.