Grant Thornton and RSM Farrell Grant Sparks merge

Pic (l-r):  Michael Shelley, Greg Sparks, Paul McCann (Managing Partner), Jim Mulqueen, Sinead Donovan and Michael McAteer

Continued business growth has Grant Thornton on target for 1,000 employees by 2017 

September 2015: The proposed merger between Grant Thornton and RSM Farrell Grant Sparks has been approved by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The move will consolidate the combined entity’s position as number 5 in the Irish accountancy market.

Following strong growth and recruitment in recent years and the approval of the RSM merger, Grant Thornton is set to have 1,000 employees by 2017. The newly combined firm will have over 800 employees with plans to recruit another 200 over the next 30 months to serve existing clients, subject to the resolution of any conflicts, and further improve and expand our range of services. New team members are required to fill positions in Grant Thornton’s audit, tax and advisory groups in Grant Thornton offices across Ireland.

Welcoming the CCPC’s approval, Grant Thornton’s Managing Partner, Paul McCann noted, “Grant Thornton’s merger with RSM Farrell Grant Sparks and our ongoing recruitment drive underlines our ambition to be Ireland’s leading financial and business advisors. Our continued growth will serve to increase competition within the large Irish firms, particularly in the areas of audit and taxation, as well as the growing market for corporate finance advisory services.”

Speaking of the development, Jim Mulqueen, Managing Partner with RSM Farrell Grant Sparks said, “We are delighted that the merger has now been approved and we look forward to working together in one entity. Clients of both firms will benefit greatly from this development as it will give them access to an even greater range and depth of experience and skills.”

According to Grant Thornton’s Managing Partner, Paul McCann, “Grant Thornton is the fifth largest accounting firm in Ireland and is the sixth largest accounting network in the world. It has member firms in 130 countries and we know from experience that clients who are engaged in any type of international business value access to our professional colleagues all over the world.”

The newly merged entity, with offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Belfast, Longford and Kildare, will be known as Grant Thornton and will be led by current Grant Thornton Managing Partner, Paul McCann. RSM Farrell Grant Sparks partners will join the Grant Thornton partnership while the firm will retain current office space at City Quay and Bride Street in Dublin.