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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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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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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.
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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.
Encouraging whistle-blowing
03 Jul 2018Whistle-blowing is not a new phenomenon but one which has been heavily publicised in recent years. High profile whistle-blowers include Edward Snowden, who is reported to have leaked classified National Security Agency documents, and Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks.
Another high profile whistle-blower case was that of Dr Grigory Rodchenkov, who blew the whistle on the Russian athlete state sponsored doping programme and identified how, at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, the Russian state swapped steroid tainted urine samples with clean samples.
Although these above are extreme examples of whistleblowing, it raises the question, are management doing enough to encourage whistleblowing in their organisations? Are there proper policies and procedures in place to investigate tips? Is there sufficient protection for the whistle-blower?
A recent survey conducted by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners identified that 40% of frauds within the workplace are identified by whistle-blowers, with over half of these tips being made by employees.
It is important that both management and employees understand the protection that is afforded to whistle-blowers. Here in Northern Ireland the current Public Interest Disclosure (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 seeks to protect those who blow the whistle on wrong doing in the workplace.
However, despite this legislative protection there is an apparent reluctance amongst employees in coming forward for fear of losing their job and/or being victimised. For example a recent survey of staff in hospitals, care homes and social service providers in Northern Ireland found 44% of those who raised concerns to senior management said they suffered as a result.
For whistle-blowing to work effectively for both management and employees it is vital that internal policies set out clearly the whistle-blowing process and the protection available to employees.
The consequences of not investigating tips properly are vast, leaving organisations exposed to negative publicity and potentially very hefty fines.
Take for example the Olympus Corporation of the Americas who settled their lawsuit with the Justice Department of America in 2016 for $646million after a whistle-blower blew the whistle on their illegal sales practices. Under the False Claims Act’s whistle-blower reward provisions the whistle-blower received $51million from this settlement.
The benefit of whistle blowers to a business cannot be underestimated. A good tip from a whistle-blower can ensure wrong doing within a company is quickly identified. If reported internally this allows management to investigate the matter away from the public media spotlight and resolve the issue before hefty fines may be imposed.
In reality, there is little choice other than to investigate any whistle-blower claims that are received by your organisation. It is vital that any investigation is robust and you choose an investigator who is impartial and appropriately skilled to handle such delicate matters.