Job Description

Alternatively, Grant Thornton

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance. A true alternative.

With over 5,000 people in the UK, and a presence in 150 global markets, we're on an ambitious journey, from great to exceptional, and we need the best people to help us achieve our potential. And with that comes the opportunity to help redefine what our industry looks like, and what you want from your career.

MORE THAN YOU EXPECTED

Grant Thornton UK LLP is part of a global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 58,000 people in over 135 countries. We're a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion and integrity first. All around the world we bring a different experience to our clients. A better experience. One that delivers the expertise they need in a way that goes beyond. Personal, proactive, and agile. That's Grant Thornton.

NEW GROUND WON’T BREAK ITSELF.

Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities to do what is right and achieve their goals.

This new and exciting role has been created to drive our Public Interest (PI) audit team evolve our approach to winning new opportunities and driving profitable growth in the large listed and large equivalent privately held companies including major-PE backed groups.

You will be a part of a supportive and growing audit Go to Market team, as well as the national Markets and Clients community. This is a really exciting opportunity to help our PI partners and directors deliver on their ambitious growth targets by ensuring rigour and momentum in their pursuits and pitching activities.

This role is central to delivering our strategy and it is an opportunity to make a real difference.

The PI Pursuits Senior Manager will provide strategic leadership and challenge on high-value and strategic PI audit pursuits and make a tangible difference to the win rate across Grant Thornton PI’s practice.

We’re happy to talk flexible working and consider reduced hours and job shares, we’ll support you to balance your work and life.

A look into the role

As an Audit Pursuits Senior Manager, you will:

• End to end pursuit strategy and coaching on high-value and strategic PI audit pursuits from qualification, developing win strategy, through to value propositions development, presentation preparation and client feedback
• Strategic input when full support is not required including qualification, development of value propositions, and presentation coaching
• Working with PI leadership and the wider Audit Pursuits team to identify and evolve the right infrastructure, systems and processes across the PI business to support the business
• Coaching and developing teams on-the-job or through structured training programs to improve BD and winning work skills, to maximise our conversion rate
• Contribute to evolving and enhancing our approach in this marketplace to address market trends, pitch feedback and business needs

The individual will require broad experience in a pursuits / BD environment to support on the most important opportunities arising across PI audit. This is a senior role in the team, and the individual will be working directly with partners and leadership to bring a best practice approach to pursuits to put Grant Thornton in the best position to win every opportunity. This is built on developing a deep understanding of the client’s issues and opportunities, key decision maker needs and developing a bespoke value proposition which is differentiated and responds to the client's needs.

Success will be measured on increasing conversion rates.

The job responsibilities include:

BD/Bid strategy

• Helping implement the bid strategy for Grant Thornton PI’s practice, including evolving the PI pursuits team required to meet the needs (both current and future) as they grow, working alongside the Head of G2M for audit and the wider Pursuits Senior Manager team
• Support in reporting key trends or gaps along with appropriate recommendations for change in our approach to bidding to senior leadership to ensure we remain future fit
• Building and embedding knowledge of successful bidding behaviours and techniques across Grant Thornton eg through different training programmes

Live pursuits

• Leadership and strategic advice on high value opportunities and involving the right teams/subject matter experts, jurisdictions and skills from across the firm to maximise our chances of winning across all stages of a pursuit.
• Taking a leading role in qualifying the opportunity in terms of the firm’s objectives, resources available to service the client, and current competitive landscape, you will consult with key stakeholders to build an effective team.
• Taking an active role in managing and challenging the team dynamics to ensure the right team is properly presented to the client including personal style, subject matter expertise and credentials to lead the pursuit strategy and value proposition development, ensuring the client team fully understand the client needs and can clearly articulate the benefits of our proposition
• Bringing the client lens to all considerations throughout the pursuit
• Devise and drive the relationship development action plan to ensure appropriate contact is made with all key decision makers and influencers using the whole Grant Thornton network and drive the momentum of the pursuit and lead all members of the pursuit team to make certain that duties are shared appropriately and enthusiasm and motivation remain high.
• Facilitating, leading and coaching in 1-2-1 and group sessions for all client interactions, including meetings and orals. Develop the orals strategy and apply presentation coaching skills
• Leading the Pursuits support team taking responsibility for all aspects of sales support provided during a pursuit, including the client team members involved, any specialists involved and third party suppliers, to ensure all deadlines are met and the necessary contribution is properly understood
• Conducting debriefs with clients/prospects after wins or losses and running learning lessons as relevant with teams.
• Upholding the firm’s policies around quality, risk, pricing and brand, escalating issues when needed.

Knowing you’re right for us

Joining us as our Audit Pursuits Senior Manager in our PI audit practice, the minimum criteria you’ll need is:

• Professional services experience – ideally Big 4
• Strong understanding of the BD and Sales Cycle and previous experience in pursuits, including influencing senior stakeholders and driving strategic wins in the FTSE 350 space
• Strategic, creative and critical thinker
• Strong coaching skills
• Experience in effective stakeholder management and influencing skills at a senior level
• Interest or knowledge of Audit beneficial but not critical

Knowing we’re right for you

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.

Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

Beyond the job

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.

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