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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.
The cost of whistleblowing
03 Dec 2019Whistleblowing is not a new phenomenon and is certainly one that is not limited to specific industries. It is widely known as the process of reporting wrongdoing that is in the public interest and is often referred to as making a protected disclosure.
In NI, protection for whistleblowers is set out in the Public Interest Disclosure (Northern Ireland) Order 1998. One of the most important elements of this legislation is that employers have vicarious liability and should whistleblowers be treated unfairly in the workplace, a claim can be made by the whistleblower against both the employer and the whistleblower’s co-workers. Other countries have adopted similar legislation.
Notwithstanding this, there are some widely publicised examples of where protected disclosures were not dealt with appropriately and the whistleblower has not been adequately protected by their employer.
In 2018, Barclays were fined $15million by a US regulator over an attempt by senior staff, including its then chief executive, to unmask a whistleblower who had submitted anonymous letters identifying internal concerns. On top of this, the chief executive was also personally fined just under £650,000 in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for his actions. As a result of their deficiency Barclays are now also subject to additional annual reporting requirements in relation to how they handle whisteblowing.
Whilst the legislation is very clear on the matter of whistleblower protections and the regulators are imposing fines on non-compliance with same, this does not necessarily protect whistleblowers from any backlash from the public and their peers, which can in some cases be more personally damaging.
In 2015 tennis player, Marco Trungelliti, was approached by a would-be match fixer and, as he was required to do so under anti-corruption protocols, reported this to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU). Over the next number of years Trungelliti complied with TIU protocol and assisted the TIU with their match fixing investigation. The investigation uncovered a plethora of fixed matches that led to a number of players being banned. As a consequence of Trungelliti’s public involvement in the TIU investigation, a number of his peers turned their back on the player and publically shamed him for his role. Fellow player Sergiy Stakhovsky even publically tweeting that there is a “Thin line between whistle-blower and snitch, all depends who is the judge.”
The value of information provided through whistleblowing should not be underestimated by those charged with governance. However, from the whisteblower’s perspective the question should be considered as to what benefit it has for the individual and whether it is worth the cost. The cost to the individual will be dependent on circumstances, such as, industry (as in Trungelliti’s case) and the nature or medium of disclosure.
Management should aim to create an environment which encourages individuals to speak up without fear. This can be done by ensuring the firm’s whistleblowing policy is widely communicated and understood, introduction of anonymous reporting mechanism and also management leading from the top.
