Associate Director – Financial Services Audit

We are Grant Thornton

We are Grant Thornton. We go beyond business as usual, so you can too.

Grant Thornton Ireland has nearly 3,000 people in 9 offices across Ireland, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Bermuda, with a presence in over 145 countries worldwide and a global network of more than 68,000 people.

At Grant Thornton, we work as trusted advisors, bringing local knowledge and national expertise with a strong global presence to help organisations succeed – wherever they are located. We make business more personal by building strong relationships and empowering our clients to make the right decisions for today and the future.

Whether working with regulators and financial institutions to build trust, supporting the public sector, or partnering with growing and established businesses, Grant Thornton Ireland doesn’t just predict the future – we help build it.

A Career at Grant Thornton

Looking for a more fulfilling role in professional services? One where fresh thinking, collaboration and diversity are genuinely valued?

At Grant Thornton, we do things differently. You’ll enjoy:

• A more inclusive and collaborative working environment
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• A culture that respects and values your experience
• Opportunities to grow, lead and shape the future of our Financial Services department

We encourage you to bring your authentic self to work and be at your best, it’s how it should be.

Our Audit & Assurance practice is experiencing significant growth, and we are looking to appoint an Associate Director – Financial Services Audit to strengthen our senior leadership team.

This role sits within our wider Financial Services Audit practice, which spans the following core sectors:

• Banking & Capital Markets
• Insurance
• Asset & Wealth Management / Funds

Candidates are expected to have deep audit experience in at least one of these Financial Services sectors, with the opportunity to broaden exposure to other FS areas over time through collaboration and cross-sector engagements.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee Financial Services audit engagements across Banking, Insurance and Asset/Wealth Management clients, ensuring timely, efficient and high-quality delivery.

• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, developing strong relationships through regular engagement, deep understanding of their business models, risks and regulatory environment.

• Ensure audit engagements comply with relevant accounting standards (IFRS, Irish/UK GAAP as applicable), regulatory requirements and Grant Thornton audit methodology.

• Manage and review complex audit areas, including risk assessments, judgements, estimates and technical accounting matters specific to Financial Services.

• Supervise, coach and mentor managers, seniors and trainees, fostering a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team culture.

• Support portfolio management responsibilities, including resourcing, budgeting, fee management and recovery.

• Contribute to the development of the Financial Services Audit practice, including thought leadership, training and technical excellence initiatives.

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, working closely with Partners on proposals, tenders and client pitches.

• Build strong relationships with internal specialists (e.g. regulatory, risk, actuarial, valuations, IT audit) to deliver integrated client solutions.

Skills, Experience & Attributes

• ACA / ACCA (or equivalent) qualified.

• Typically 7+ years’ post-qualification experience within Financial Services audit.

• Strong technical knowledge of IFRS and auditing standards; experience across Irish/UK GAAP an advantage.

• Proven experience auditing Financial Services entities, with significant depth in at least one core FS sector (Banking, Insurance or Asset/Wealth Management/Funds).

• Experience managing large and complex audit engagements and portfolios.

• Strong professional judgement and ability to challenge constructively.

• Demonstrated leadership capability, with experience motivating, developing and retaining high-performing teams.

• Commercial awareness with the ability to identify value-added opportunities for clients.

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including engagement with senior client management and regulators.

• Electronic auditing and data-enabled audit experience.

• Experience gained in a Big 4 or large professional services firm would be advantageous.

Life at Grant Thornton

Reward & Benefits

Our reward and benefits are designed to help our people flourish, both professionally and personally. We are committed to creating an environment that supports wellbeing, flexibility and long-term career development.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

At Grant Thornton, people are at the heart of our business. We are committed to providing equitable opportunities for all colleagues and to building a responsible, sustainable business where equity, diversity and inclusion are central to our culture.

We value diversity of background, experience and thought, recognising that it drives better decision-making, higher quality outcomes and stronger client relationships. We want to hear your perspectives and fresh thinking, and we will support and champion you as a leader from day one.

Recognition

We believe in recognising and celebrating success. Our Shout Out recognition scheme allows colleagues to say thank you, celebrate achievements and highlight behaviours that reflect our values – because great work deserves to be recognised.

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