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.
Director of Partner Matters andPeople Services
This is a senior dual-mandate role, combining two distinct but connected responsibilities: the management of all matters relating to thePartnerlifecycle, and the management of employee operational lifecycle activities.
PartnerMatters–working across the Partnership,this role will enhance the Partner experiencethroughprovision ofguidance,supportand pastoral care
People Services- working closely withthe People ExperienceDirector,thisrole willensure interactions with the People & Culture team feel supportive,clearand simplethroughout theemployee lifecycle
This is an exciting opportunity to join, and a shape,a firm which is genuinely investing initspeople infrastructureAs part of the People & Culture leadership teamand working closely with the CPO, SeniorPartnerand Service Line Leadersthis role will put you at theforefront of decisions related to both the Partner and employee experience.
A look into the role
Partner lifecycle, governance and exit economics
Pastoralcare,healthand wellbeing
You will act as the firm’s lead on Partner health and wellbeing, championing a culture where Partners feel safe to raise wellbeing concerns To support this, you will:
Design and oversee a partner wellbeing framework that addresses physical,mentaland financial health - recognising the unique pressures and responsibilities of partnership.
Build trusted relationships across the Partnership so that partners know where to turn for support before a situation becomes a crisis
Support partners through significant lifeevents,ensuring the firm responds with compassion and practical help, maintaining confidentiality whilst ensuring the right people are informed and involvedWork alongside Service Line Leaders, the CPO and People Directors to ensure pastoral support is coordinated, consistent and never falls through the gaps
Monitor partner wellbeing at a cohort level,identifyingpatterns or concerns that require a proactive response from the firm.
Work closely with occupational health providers, Employee Assistance Programme partners and external specialists to ensure the support available to partners is best in class.
Partnerlifecyclemanagement
Supporting the experience of our partners from their onboarding, throughout their career and as they transition into retirement or leaving the Partnership you will:
Work closely with the Partner Experience Team, supporting the onboarding and integration of new partners,establishingyourself as a key point of contact for queries and support.
Lead on the partner performance protocolprocess, andmanage the annual equity allocation process in partnership with the CPO and CFO, providing analysis and modelling to support decision-making.
Manage all partner exit processes – retirement, performance-related, voluntarydepartureand mutual agreement – with professionalism and strict confidentiality.
Support Partners through the retirement transition and be a sounding board and coach to Partners who want to discuss their transition towards retirement.
Work with Legal and Finance to calculate and document exit economics: notice periods, garden leave, capital repayment, deferredcompensationand good/bad leaver provisions.
Maintain the partner leaver pipeline and provide regular reporting to the CPO and Partner Board onanticipatedexits, financialexposureand succession considerations.
Partner, governance,complianceandremuneration
Act as the firm’s expert on the Membership Agreement, ensuring policies and processes are aligned and any proposed changes areidentifiedand escalated appropriately.
Lead the preparation of the annual partnerremunerationcycle – collating performance data, financialresultsand equity modelling to support the CPO and CFO indeterminingpartner pay outcomes.
Working closely with the Finance and Partner Accounts teamtomaintainthe firm’s partnerremunerationdata model, including drawings schedules, unit point allocations, variable paycalculationsand deferred compensation tracking.
Produce clear,accurateand confidential analysis and reports for the CPO and CEO ahead ofremunerationcommittee meetings, Partner Board discussions and individual partner conversations.
Provide benchmarking analysis to supportremunerationdecisions – drawing on internal data and external market intelligence to ensure the firm’s partner payremainscompetitive andequitable, supported by our Reward team.
People systems, data, process & shared services
Working with our HR Operations Senior Manager, and People Experience Director, you will oversee the HR Operations across the firm to support and enhance the experience of employees throughout their career at the firm.
You will:
Have overall responsibility for the People Services function, ensuring the team deliversaccurate,timelyand professional support across all HR transactions – contracts, starters, leavers,changesand general queries.
Lead, develop and inspire the People & Partner Services teams, setting clear expectations and creating a high-performing, detail-oriented function.
Design and continuously improve people processes and workflows, working in close partnership with the People Experience Director and People Operations team to ensure they are efficient, automated where possible, and enhance the quality and overall people and partner experience.
The Finance team owns the payroll function however the People Services team needs to work closely with the payroll team to ensure accuracy and governance, ensuring partner drawings and employee payroll are processed correctly and on time.
Working with the data team,you willbuild andmaintaina suite of people data dashboards and reports – headcount, attrition, diversity, performance,payand partner demographics – for the CPO, PartnerBoardand senior leadership.
Act as a senior escalation point for complex operational issues and ensure the team has the support,capabilityand tools to deliver excellent service.
Knowingyou’reright for us
We’veset ambitious growth targets for the firm, and we need the right people to help us achieve these.We’relooking for people who will bring ambition and drive to their role. In changing markets, we need to be able to work at pace and be adaptable to change and to be curious, asking questions of ourselves,each otherand our clients to ensure we are delivering the services and quality we expect.
Joining us as a Director of Partner Matters & HR Operations, the minimumcriteriayou’llneed is:
Knowingwe’reright for you
The culture at Grant Thornton is what sets us apart,we’reknown for our inclusive culture and creating environments where all our people can flourish. The things that set you apart, we value them, and this helps us all to perform at our best.
Our values are the unwavering principles that shape our daily behaviours and decisions, alongside our drive to do the right thing.We’relooking for people who align with our values and are purposefully driven, activelycuriousand candid but kind. You can learn more about our values in practice here.
Whatweoffer
A unique and genuinely senior role with influence across two critical People & Culture workstreams.
Direct access to and partnership with the CPO, Service Line Leaders and Senior Partner.
A collaborative People & Culture leadership team with strong senior sponsorship.
Access to AI tools support smarter and faster working.
It’snot just about our culture and values, in addition to a competitive salary and reward package, usyou’llalso get:
Tailored development programmes and access to coaching
Flexible bank holidays – allowing you to celebrate the days that are important to you
Benefits including pension, life assurance and private medical,additionalholiday purchasing and health benefits
Any benefits giving you access to shopping discounts, gym memberships, financial advice
And more. Visit our benefits section to read more.
How we work
We have a trust-based way of working, driven by responsible people who have the best interests of our firm and our clients at heart. Our how we work framework gives flexibility in where, how, and when we work to deliver the best results for our clients, whilst helping you keep a balance between work and life. Life is more than work, the things you do, and the peopleyou’rewith outside of work matter,that’swhywe’rehappy to look at flexible working options for all our roles. That is how it should be.
We’re looking for people who can help drive the business forward, who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly dowhat’sright, for the firm, our clients, ourpeopleand themselves.
When choosing an advisor, you could accept the usual compromises.
Alternatively, you can find people that aren’t afraid to break with the norms to provide a more rewarding experience. With people that leave you feeling smart, not smarting.
The UK member firms of Grant Thornton are part of a global network that employs over 76,000 people in 150 countries. We combine global scale with local insight and understanding to give you the assurance, tax, and advisory services you need to realise your ambitions.
We go beyond business as usual, so you can too. We make business more personal by investing in building relationships. Whether you’re growing in one market or many, you consistently get a great service you can trust. We work at a pace that matters – yours – bringing both flexibility and rigour. We celebrate fresh thinking and diverse perspectives to bring you proactive insights and positive progress.
Ready to go beyond? Visit our website for insight on what we can offer you.
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‘Grant Thornton’ refers to the brand under which the Grant Thornton member firms provide assurance, tax and advisory services to their clients and/or refers to one or more member firms, as the context requires. Grant Thornton UK LLP and Grant Thornton Advisory & Tax LLP are member firms of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. GTIL and each member firm is a separate legal entity. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL does not provide services to clients. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. This publication has been prepared only as a guide. No responsibility is accepted by us for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material in this publication.
