Partner Integration – Associate Director
Grant Thornton UK · Leeds, United Kingdom +2 · 1d ago
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.
Job Description:
Partner Integration Associate Director
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.
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
With Partner appointments increasing at pace across the firm, what separates a Partner who succeeds from one who does not is rarely the appointment itself – it is what happens during integration. Working alongside Service Line Leaders, their leadership teams and Sponsoring Partners, this role takes ownership of that integration from start to finish, working across a wider delivery ecosystem to accelerate both commercial impact and cultural connection. This is one of the core priorities, aligned with our strategic growth vision, and will require credible delivery and confident communication as you work alongside the most senior people in the firm.
Reporting to the People & Culture Director leading partner recruitment and integration, you will lead and deliver the Partner integration strategy, govern Partner business cases, and hold the wider firm to account for converting senior hires into lasting commercial value. Colleagues in Partner Services will support you – managing process, measurement and reporting and providing firmwide oversight – while you act as the definitive voice on lateral integration, advising senior leadership on readiness, risk and outcomes.
A look into the role
Owning the lateral integration strategy
- Lead and take ownership of the Partner integration strategy for your service lines, keeping it tightly aligned to the firm’s growth priorities and recruitment plans
- Set clear expectations, accountabilities and success measures for everyone involved in integration, from Sponsoring Partners through to service line leadership and Central Acceleration Services colleagues.
Bringing business cases to life
- Convert each business case into a tailored integration plan, bringing consistency, transparency and disciplined decision-making to the process
- support the activation of clear mobilisation and execution plans
- be a counsel, soundboard and support to the new laterals coming into the firm helping to build their knowledge of the firm, connect dots and help forge impactful connections and relationships.
Leading onboarding and integration end to end
- Make sure each plan addresses all of the dimensions that determine success, including:
- cultural and operational integration
- commercial and platform readiness – conflicts, pricing, staffing, systems and knowledge
- mobilising clients and revenue
- internal connectivity and the generation of work
- go-to-market and business development enablement
Integration Partner model, accountability and risk
- Own the central role in identifying and resolving integration risks, clearing blockers and prompting timely intervention
- Hold every party to account for playing their part in integration and business case delivery, raising concerns early wherever engagement or results fall short
Measurement, review rhythm and leadership reporting
- Own and run the formal review milestones, including:
- check-ins at 4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks
- partnering with the Head of Business Partners and Head of Partner Matters to embed new Partners into our business-as-usual talent and lifecycle processes
- Deliver high-quality, insight-led reporting to senior leadership Spot trends at service line level and bring them to senior leadership alongside strategic recommendations and solutions
- Feed what we learn from new Partner outcomes back into future recruitment and integration strategy
Operating model, capability and improvement
- Push continuous improvement by embedding lessons learned and refining the approach to shorten the time to commercial impact and cultural connection
- Alongside the Partner Integration Operations team, help develop our integration collateral on an ongoing basis – playbooks, templates, tools and reporting standards
What success looks like
- A shorter journey from start date to meaningful revenue and pipeline momentum
- New Partners hitting their agreed business case milestones at each defined review point
- Integration risks identified and resolved early, with no late surprises
- High-quality engagement and commitment from the wider delivery ecosystem – Sponsoring Partner, Commercial team, service line leadership teams and others
- A consistent, high-quality integration experience across all operating units and locations
- Clear evidence that integration insights are sharpening future hiring decisions and outcomes, and continually strengthening our integration strategy
Knowing you’re right for us
We’ve set ambitious growth targets for the firm, and we need the right people to help us achieve these. We’re looking 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 other and our clients to ensure we are delivering the services and quality we expect.
Joining us as a Partner Integration Associate Director, the minimum criteria you’ll need is experience of working in a professional services environment alongside senior stakeholders and driving commercial outcomes. It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box, we’ll help you develop along the way.
Essential experience and knowledge
- Experience of working in a professional services environment alongside senior stakeholders
- Driving commercial outcomes either via client engagements or in an internal role
- Credibility and ability to influence
Desirable experience and knowledge
- Working in a people focused role
- Have experience of being client facing at some point in your career
This role would suit someone in a role such as Chief of Staff, a senior people role such as Leadership Development or a senior commercial/marketing role. Or, someone who has been client facing in a professional services firm, ideally with knowledge of how a Deals Advisory business works, who is looking to step into a non fee-earning role.
Knowing we’re right for you
The culture at Grant Thornton is what sets us apart, we’re known 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’re looking for people who align with our values and are purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind. You can learn more about our values in practice here.
It’s not just about our culture and values, in addition to a competitive salary and reward package, us you’ll also 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, additional holiday 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 people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy 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 do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.