Business Process Services Associate Director

Grant Thornton (UK); Birmingham; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Grant Thornton in the United Kingdom seeks an Associate Director in the Business Process Services CFO Solutions team. You will support business development, shape delivery strategy with client leadership, and manage a multi‑disciplinary team, including onshore and GT India collaboration, with potential UK travel.

The role requires proven experience in outsourced accounting/finance services, strong leadership, and a proactive, flexible approach to deliver value and growth across client accounts.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering outsourced accounting or finance services.
• Experience managing and developing a team, including resourcing and capability planning.
• Experience in sales and business development to grow a business.
• Experience selling business process outsourcing solutions is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills for client and delivery teams.

Responsibilities

• Support business development activity, including proposals and pitches.
• Shape strategic direction by partnering with client leadership teams.
• Direct pipeline development and forecasting for the portfolio.
• Manage and develop the team, including resourcing and capability planning.
• Take a hands-on role in delivery on complex engagements when needed.
• Build strong client relationships and identify expansion opportunities.
• Create and refresh client-facing materials with delivery insights.
• Champion best practice across the team and drive improvements.

Skills

Outsourced accounting

Team management

Business development

Sales of BPO

Communication skills

Travel flexibility

Dynamics CRM

Proactive mindset

Education

ACA/ACCA/ICAS/CA/CIPFA

Tools

Dynamics CRM

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

As an Associate Director within our Business Process Services CFO Solutions team, you will:

• Support business development activity, including contributing to proposals, pitches, and origination efforts alongside the BD and origination teams.
• Shape strategic direction by partnering with clients' leadership teams to understand their operating models and where outsourcing support adds most value.
• Direct pipeline development and forecasting for the portfolio, keeping the order book accurate and aligned to growth targets.
• Manage and develop the team, including resourcing, capability planning, and day-to-day oversight of work delivered both onshore and with our GT India colleagues, with potential for overseas travel to strengthen that relationship.
• Take a hands-on role in client work where required, stepping into delivery on complex or high-priority engagements alongside the wider team.
• Build strong client relationships, acting as a trusted point of contact and identifying opportunities to expand scope within existing accounts.
• Contribute to the creation and refresh of client-facing materials such as case studies and pitch templates, drawing on delivery experience to keep them credible and current.
• Champion best practice across the team, sharing insight from client delivery to improve processes and outcomes.

Knowing you're right for us

Joining us as an Associate Director within our Business Process Services team, the minimum criteria you'll need is:

• Proven experience delivering outsourced accounting or finance services (management accounts, VAT, statutory reporting)
• Experience managing and developing a team, including resourcing and capability planning.
• Experience of successful sales and business development to support the growth of a business.
• Prior experience of sales of business process outsourcing solutions would be added advantage.
• Comfortable contributing to business development activity such as proposals and client pitches
• Excellent communication skills to manage both client and delivery team relationships.
• Our operating model involves working with global and cross-cultural teams, so flexibility to travel to other offices (within and outside the UK) is required.
• Good organisational and IT skills, including CRM tools such as Dynamics.
• A proactive, can-do attitude.

It would be great if you had some of the following, but don't worry if you don't tick every box, we'll help you develop along the way:

A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, ICAS, CA or CIPFA).

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 jobLife 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.

#CJ-1

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. Whether that's working reduced contracted hours, working your hours over a shorter period or utilising our 'how we work' framework. Everyone has an immediate right to request a flexible arrangement through our flexible working policy. Read more about our approach to flexible working.