An exceptional period of growth at Grant Thornton in Northern Ireland shows no signs of abating, with the firm recently announcing the creation of a further 50 jobs. Managing Partner, Richard Gillan, speaks to the Belfast Telegraph about how it continues to attract the highest calibre of recruits to keep pace with the rising demand of clients.
The announcement last week that Grant Thornton is seeking to fill 50 vacancies in roles across its service offering was another sign of the remarkable and sustained growth of the leading business advisory firm.
For Richard Gillan, Grant Thornton Northern Ireland’s Managing Partner, it marked yet another milestone in the expansion of the practice over recent years.
“It is always a privilege to be able to create new employment, and we were delighted to announce the additional 50 positions last week. The initial response from the market has been extremely encouraging.”
Richard joined the firm in 2014 and since then has witnessed sustained growth across its Audit, Tax and Advisory service lines, with revenues increasing by more than fivefold. Meanwhile, demand continues to grow from clients, particularly around specific issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and the Northern Ireland Protocol, as well as guidance navigating the increasingly complex tax system.
The secret? For Richard, it’s quite simply the people.
He added:
“It’s all about our people. We have worked exceptionally hard to cultivate a culture that everyone from the most senior to the most junior can understand, buy in to, and play out on a daily basis.
“All our people are different, and I believe that we have created an environment where they can all thrive and achieve their objectives. I would like to think that we have also created a team spirit that encourages us all to be the best we can be, taking a real pride in the work that we do for our clients.
“But, crucially, we do this in a fun environment. We all know that people work better when they enjoy what they are doing, and so we recruit people who we believe will enjoy working at Grant Thornton.”
The results bear that out. In the most recent Annual Staff Satisfaction Survey, 60 per cent of staff rated the firm as a “nine or ten out of ten” when asked how likely they were to recommend Grant Thornton in Northern Ireland as a place to work. This translated to an eNPS (Employee Net Promoter Score – a globally recognised measure of staff satisfaction) of0 +48 for 2021 – remarkably high for a professional services firm
Richard added:
“Tracking our Employee Net Promoter Score is very important to us as it acts as tangible confirmation that our culture isn’t just something we talk about, but rather is a part of everyday life at Grant Thornton.
“People are at the centre of everything we do, which is why we must continually seek to attract and retain the very best talent. We have had great success in recruiting the very best people in recent years, and we have gained many of the very best clients as a result. But, of course, as more and more clients come on board, our demand for further new talent increases.
“But our growth isn’t just great news for those seeking a new job. It is equally great news for existing staff who can see clear potential for promotion and development. We have made more promotions in the last 12 months than ever before, and crucially all those promotion decisions are made here in Belfast.”
Current vacancies at Grant Thornton are across its Audit, Tax, Restructuring, Economic Advisory, Corporate Finance and Operations teams.
Richard finished:
“Now is a great time to join Grant Thornton. If you are looking for the next move in your career and want to work for a firm which is focused on working with Northern Ireland’s leading businesses, we would love to hear from you.”
To find out more about the employment opportunities available at Grant Thornton in Belfast, including how to apply, please click here
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