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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.
Go Forth and Multiply!
03 Sep 2019You may think, given the increasing likelihood of a no deal Brexit, that most UK based companies would be focussing on the UK market at the minute. However, a recent survey shows 37% of businesses expect to increase exporting in the coming year. Indeed, for local companies with Republic of Ireland or other European Union-based competitors, the only certainty is that if they are not looking to increase their sales to export markets, their competitors will be.
There is no reason to consider developing an export market as an impossible task. Perhaps when NI businesses used to think of supplying to distant markets their thoughts rarely strayed beyond the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. However, the last thirty years have seen many local companies, across several sectors, successfully grow their businesses overseas showing what is possible. The worldwide dominance of County Tyrone in the materials handling sector being a prime example.
There are, of course, challenges to exporting and variables to consider for each potential export market, including competition, manufacturing, distribution, employment and tax law. However, advice and assistance is available to companies to help them consider their options before committing any capital.
Invest Northern Ireland remains a key enabler of export growth for NI companies and is a useful first point of contact. As well as potential financial assistance, they can help companies to develop an export strategy, provide export skills workshops, research competitors and markets and bring companies on market visits.
Companies should also look to their advisers for assistance. Many accounting and legal firms are part of international networks that can not only advise on the financial, regulatory and tax regimes of chosen markets, but may also be able to introduce potential trading partners through their client base.
Now is definitely the time to explore new markets. To do this successfully remember these five tips. Firstly, assess the market and competition to identify genuine opportunities and talk to Invest Northern Ireland and your advisers as part of this process.
Secondly, consider both the practical and administrative implications that will be involved, this may include whether to set up a company in the jurisdiction, second current employees or hire locally, etc.
Thirdly, create a clear vision and set achievable goals for overseas growth that the company can get behind.
Fourthly, proactively network to identify the right companies and people to work with. This will help you to better understand local business practices and integrate into new markets.
Lastly, be ready to be flexible. A reactive and agile approach is even more important when you enter new markets and will ensure you are truly meeting the needs of your customers.