Associate Director - Public Sector Consulting

GRANT THORNTON; Scotland; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading advisory firm in the UK is seeking an Associate Director in Public Services Advisory. This role involves leading strategy development for public sector projects, ensuring high-quality service delivery, and fostering a diverse and inclusive team culture. The ideal candidate will have significant public sector experience, strong business development skills, and a commitment to inclusion. The position offers a chance to make a meaningful impact through high-profile government projects, with flexible working options available.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Inclusive culture

Opportunities for community engagement

Qualifications

• Significant experience of working with or within the public sector.
• Portfolio of experience managing major transactions/assignments.
• Track record in business development and winning competitive tenders.
• Strong understanding of contractual requirements and commercial issues.
• Good project-management skills with a record of delivering projects.

Responsibilities

• Support development and implementation of strategy.
• Demonstrate high-quality and professional behavior in work delivery.
• Inspire and lead team members to reach potential.
• Build and maintain client relationships for high-quality service.
• Contribute to business development and build a diverse team.

Skills

Experience with the public sector

Business development

Project management

Excellent communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

University qualification or relevant experience

Professional qualification (e.g. ACA, CIMA)

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.

Job Description

Public Services Advisory, Associate Director

In Public Services Advisory, we have worked on some of the UK's largest and most high‑profile public sector clients, infrastructure projects and public policy programmes. At their core these assignments focused on creating value across the whole of the UK (and internationally) providing infrastructure and services that deliver economic and social benefits for current and future generations.

Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities to do what is right and achieve their goals. Our purpose is to make a difference by working hand in hand with our public and private sector clients on significant public sector projects and issues. We are a team that has public service at its heart and works both virtually and from seven Grant Thornton offices – London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds.

Sector Teams

• Transport
• Net zero
• Healthcare
• Real Estate and Assets
• Defence
• Financial modelling and analytics
• Consulting

Consulting

Our consulting team seeks to develop long‑term partnerships with our clients to help them deliver key government policies, programmes and strategies on the ground. We work with public sector clients – and those looking to engage with it – to make effective strategic decisions, improve outcomes, optimise delivery models, deliver reform, balance short‑term financial challenges with medium‑term investment and ensure value for money.

We do this across the policy lifecycle from identifying the need for change to making the case for investment, delivering the project and assessing the difference it has made. Our multidisciplinary team comprises analysts, accountants, economists and strategists. Successful candidates will learn from senior, experienced members who have established our presence and credibility in this vital area of public service.

NEW GROUND WON’T BREAK ITSELF.

In Public Services Advisory, we help to deliver capital projects, collaborative structures and arrangements, contracting, financial analysis and assurance, modelling, data analytics, strategy development, performance improvement, system transformation and integration of services across the public sector.

Here are some things you can expect from a role within Public Services Advisory:

• Developing and implementing strategy for Public Services Advisory
• Making quality second nature – ensures technical excellence and quality across the team in accordance with the firm’s guidelines
• Develop and implement plans which position PSA in the marketplace – lead from the front with regards to proposals and client work
• Build, grow and inspire a market‑leading team – success depends on people who are motivated, embrace learning and are resilient
• Build and develop a diverse PSA team – contribute to achieving this and my people reflect diverse communities and clients we serve
• Create a team culture based on inclusion and excellence – seek and appreciate differences, minimise unconscious bias so everyone can realise their full potential
• Build your brand – be known for excellence and clarity in communication within Grant Thornton and with external stakeholders

A look into the role

As an Associate Director in Consulting within Public Services Advisory, you will:

• Support development and implementation of the strategy for your sector
• Demonstrate high quality and professional behaviour in delivery of work and challenge others to do the same
• Demonstrate leadership and inspire people to reach potential
• Ensure technical excellence and quality in accordance with firm’s guidelines
• Ensure effective oversight of your team to deliver high quality work and meet financial targets
• Support partner and director group to lead complex projects, build strong client relationships, and bring relevant Grant Thornton people and external partners to deliver high quality service
• Support partner and director group on complex proposals through effective business development and winning bids. Embed a learning culture in proposals and begin to lead proposals with less support
• Embed a quality culture through active coaching, praising good work and challenging poor work with feedback
• Make a significant contribution to business development, building relationships so clients of the future
• Work with partners and directors to build a more diverse PSA team
• Create an inclusive culture throughout PSA and call out non‑inclusive behaviours
• Build and maintain a network in your sector and across Grant Thornton, ensuring your expertise is known and capitalising on opportunities for PSA and the wider firm
• Contribute and promote thought‑leadership pieces within your sector regularly
• Be aware of relevant sector or industry developments that impact the team’s work
• Manage quality and risk in line with firm’s policies and procedures
• Act with integrity and in line with organisational values
• Embrace core values in relation to diversity and inclusion, behaving inclusively at all times
• Achieve ‘zone of affection’ rating in client satisfaction scores for clients
• Do what is right, not what is easy

Knowing you’re right for us

As an Associate Director, the minimum criteria you’ll need are a university qualification or relevant experience. A professional qualification (e.g. ACA, CIPFA, Prince2, CIMA, CFA) is desirable and you will have:

• Significant experience of working with or within the public sector, or a desire to work with the public sector
• A portfolio of experience managing major transactions/assignments with a range of organisations
• A track record in business development in your sector and winning competitive tenders
• Experience working in teams with line‑management/oversight responsibilities
• Evidence of taking ownership for setting and delivering team goals and monitoring individual project targets in terms of utilisation, revenue and gross margin
• Strong understanding and demonstrable experience of contractual requirements and commercial issues relevant to your sector
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience of reporting and presenting to clients or stakeholders
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion
• Good project‑management skills and a record of delivering projects on time, to quality and financial deadlines
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to build and develop a network of clients

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.

• Understanding of operations, performance and finance
• Awareness of current policy and issues

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, so 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.