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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.
In April 2016 the EU parliament approved the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It provided a two year transition period to ensure businesses could be fully compliant with the new regulations by May 2018. Now, with only a few months to go many businesses remain unprepared, and the cost of non-compliance could be significant.
GDPR aims to give EU citizens control over their personal data (any information related to an individual which can be used to identify that person) which is held by third party organisations. It recognises the sheer volume of personal data that is held and processed, and it addresses the shortcomings of outdated data protection legislation in the modern world.
GDPR applies to all businesses that process personal data and are either established within the EU or that sell goods or services to EU citizens. The UK’s commitment to GDPR pre-dates Brexit and UK businesses will need to comply.
The regulations identify two types of business: data controllers - organisations that collect data from EU citizens; and data processors, that process data on behalf of a controller. An example of the latter would be an outsourcing company who indirectly hold personal data in order to perform their outsourced activity. Under GDPR, data controllers must ensure that the data processers they use also fully comply with the regulations.
So what does it mean for local businesses?
Firstly, consent to hold personal information must be obtained in a clear and distinguishable manner, and not included within long-winded, technical terms and conditions. Existing consents held by business may no longer be adequate.
Individuals have the right to obtain confirmations from data controllers (ie businesses) if their personal data is being processed and details of the purpose. They may also request a copy of that information. Furthermore, the right to be forgotten entitles a person to have the data controller erase their personal data when certain conditions are met. It will be necessary, therefore, for businesses to be capable of identifying the information they hold on each individual.
Data security is an important factor of GDPR and businesses will need to review and, if necessary, upgrade their current security arrangements. Reporting data breaches will become mandatory, and it must be done within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach, and informing the affected data subjects must be done ‘without undue delay’.
The appointment of a Data Protection Officer (DPO) may be required, but only where an entity (a) is a public body (b) carries out large scale systematic monitoring of individuals (c) carries out large scale processing of sensitive personal data.
GDPR preparation has been and will be a significant undertaking for most businesses especially those that will require the appointment of a DPO. It is vital for businesses to take the time now to review and implement data privacy measures before May 2018. Failing to take GDPR seriously could lead to penalties of up to €20M or 4% of your global annual turnover.
Doing nothing is not an option.