Associate Director Economist

The UK member firms of Grant Thornton are part of a global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 76,000 in over 150 countries. We’re a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion and integrity first. All around the world we bring a different experience to our clients. A better experience. One that delivers the expertise they need in a way that goes beyond. Personal, proactive, and agile. That’s Grant Thornton.

Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities to do what is right and achieve their goals. Grant Thornton’s Economic Consulting division comprises 30 postgraduate economists who provide specialist regulatory, competition and economic valuation services on an advisory and independent expert basis to economic regulators, government, corporates and their legal advisors. Frequently working alongside other teams at Grant Thornton, we advise on high profile issues in all major sectors of the economy.

Our areas of expertise include:

• Competition economics: Advice and expert witness services across all areas of competition law including merger control, abuse of dominance, competition investigations, anti-competitive practices and competition damages.
• Economic valuations: Using specialist quantitative techniques in the context of disputes, asset recovery and advisory situations.
• Regulatory economics: Using economics to develop public policy and regulation, assess its impact and assist companies in its implementation including ESG, consumer duty, price controls and economic impact.
• Economics of strategy: Using economic analysis to make the right strategic and pricing decisions with an increasing focus on AI.

Examples of our work include:

• Estimation of loss suffered by investors in a large Pharma (listed) company, following alleged financial reporting failure.
• Advising a European telecoms operator on a proposed merger with another telecoms operator.
• Independent economic analysis for a construction company being investigated by the CMA for bid rigging.
• Economic tests to assess whether a group of companies have engaged in a cartel and the damages that arose from the overcharge.
• Investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices by an international retail company.
• Competition assessment for a transport company concerned that it may be in breach of competition law (pricing practices).
• Expert for a leading high street bank responding to an investigation into potential mis-selling.
• Advising the PSR on its market review of the payments market.
• Advising Government on subsidy control submissions to the CMA.

As an Associate Director Economist within our Economic Consulting team, you will be:

• Working on contentious dispute matters, providing quantum security litigation, valuation of damages and act as lead support for the Independent Expert.
• Scoping and leading in the delivery and implementation of quantum analysis.
• Responsible for economic projects for clients, leading analysis on large cases or a portfolio of smaller projects.
• Leading on the identification of data requirements, and managing the process of collecting and processing that data/ Implementing and supervising those analyses using the appropriate tools.
• Working alongside our quantitative economists to design statistical and econometric analyses capable of addressing client needs.
• Preparing PowerPoint slides, memorandums and formal written reports and presenting the results, alongside other members of the team, and directly with clients.
• Liaising with clients and their legal advisors, including project updates and presentation of analysis.
• Identifying opportunities for business development including drafting thought leadership material.
• Supporting analysts to develop and achieve their potential.

Joining us as an Associate Director Economist, the minimum criteria you’ll need is experience leading in economic dispute type engagements and hold an MSc in economics. 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:

• Experience of presenting complex arguments to a range of stakeholders.
• Experience of writing and delivering complex reports.
• Experience of using econometric and statistical software e.g., Stata, R and Python.
• An interest in supporting the development of the competition economics offering.
• Experience of using Microsoft office including excel.

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.

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, 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.