At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance transformation projects and drive automation for clients.
- Company: Join Grant Thornton, a global leader in finance consulting with an inclusive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible holidays, and tailored development programmes.
- Other info: Flexible working options to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
- Why this job: Shape the future of finance while working with senior leaders and innovative technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in finance transformation and strong client relationship skills required.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.
Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. We empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture, and work-life balance. 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.
Grant Thornton UK's Finance Consulting / CFO Solutions practice helps ambitious businesses transform their finance functions, making them faster, smarter, and more strategically relevant to the organisations they serve. We work with CFOs and Financial Controllers across a range of sectors to re-engineer controllership and financial close processes, deploy automation technologies, and build the capability needed to sustain lasting change.
We are growing our team and looking for an exceptional Senior Manager/Associate Director to scale our Controllership Transformation and Financial Close Automation practice. This is a high-profile role at the intersection of finance operations, process redesign, and enabling technology, working alongside senior finance leaders and shaping the future of our controllership offering.
A look into the role
You will take a leading role in delivering engagements that help clients fundamentally improve how they close their books, consolidate financials, and report with confidence. You will combine deep controllership expertise with hands-on experience of close automation and EPM technology to drive genuine, measurable outcomes—reducing close cycle times, improving accuracy, and freeing up finance teams to focus on higher-value work.
This is not a back-office role. You will be visible with clients at CFO and Financial Controller level, shaping propositions, leading teams, and building Grant Thornton's reputation as the go-to adviser for controllership transformation.
As a Finance Transformation Associate Director in our Finance Consulting team, you will:
- Lead end-to-end controllership transformation programmes: from current-state diagnostic through to future-state operating model design and implementation.
- Own financial close automation workstreams, overseeing solution design, vendor engagement, configuration, testing, user adoption, and change management.
- Advise clients on close technology platform selection, with specific expertise across FloQast, OneStream, and Prophix.
- Redesign financial close and consolidation processes, including close calendar optimisation, task management, account reconciliation, and intercompany automation.
- Develop and implement policy and control frameworks that underpin a faster, more reliable close, reducing manual effort and audit risk simultaneously.
- Drive automation of journal entry, reconciliation, and variance analysis workflows to materially reduce close cycle times.
- Translate complex finance operations and technology challenges into clear, actionable roadmaps that clients can own and execute.
- Manage delivery across multiple concurrent engagements, ensuring quality, timeline, and budget commitments are met.
Business Development
- Build and maintain a strong pipeline through existing client relationships, network referrals, and targeted outbound activity with CFOs and Financial Controllers.
- Author compelling proposals and lead pitches to CFO and Controller-level stakeholders, articulating a clear and differentiated point of view on financial close transformation.
- Develop and maintain relationships with close technology vendors, including FloQast, OneStream, and Prophix, as part of GT's Digital Alliances programme.
Practice Development
- Contribute to the development of Grant Thornton’s Controllership and financial close service offerings — including methodologies, diagnostic tools, accelerators, and thought leadership.
- Build and mentor a high-performing team of Managers and Consultants, creating a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning.
- Represent Grant Thornton at external events, roundtables, and industry forums to build our profile in the controllership transformation market.
Knowing you’re right for us
Joining us as a Finance Transformation Associate Director in Finance Consulting, the minimum criteria you’ll need is:
- Significant experience in controllership, financial close transformation, or finance management consulting, with a track record of leading complex programmes.
- Hands-on implementation or advisory experience with one or more close automation or EPM platforms: FloQast, OneStream, Prophix, Blackline, or comparable.
- Deep understanding of controllership processes: financial close cycles, account reconciliation, consolidation, intercompany accounting, journal entry management, and statutory reporting.
- Demonstrated ability to design future-state close operating models covering process, automation, controls, data, and people dimensions.
- Experience working at senior client levels—comfortable building trusted relationships with CFOs and Financial Controllers.
- Track record of identifying and driving out controllership inefficiencies through a combination of process redesign, policy clarification, and technology enablement.
- Professional qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, ICAS or equivalent) strongly preferred.
- Strong commercial acumen, able to scope engagements, manage budgets, and identify revenue opportunities.
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 in Private Equity-backed environments, particularly improving close quality and auditability ahead of exit or IPO.
- FloQast implementation or roll-out experience (certification an advantage).
- OneStream or Prophix consolidation and close management configuration experience.
- Familiarity with broader finance technology landscape: ERP (SAP, Oracle, D365), reconciliation automation, and reporting tools.
- Understanding of the intersection between close quality, internal controls, and external audit, and how to turn audit findings into a transformation business case.
- Sector depth in one or more of: Financial Services, Consumer, TMT, Infrastructure, or Public Sector.
- Experience building or scaling a consulting practice area or service line.
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. It’s not just about our culture and values; in addition to a competitive salary and reward package, 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.
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. We’re looking for people who can help drive the business forward, who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations.
Glasgow Type: Full time
Associate Director of Finance - Transformation in Glasgow employer: Grant Thornton
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director of Finance - Transformation in Glasgow
✨Tip Number 1: Tap Into Professional Networks
The finance world loves a good connection, so jump into industry-specific groups on platforms like LinkedIn where you can find discussions on financial controlling. Engaging in these communities can expose you to hidden job leads that aren't openly advertised!
✨Tip Number 2: Attend Finance Events and Conferences
Make it a mission to attend finance-related events and conferences, even virtual ones! This is a golden opportunity to network face-to-face with people from companies like Grant Thornton. You never know who might be your next boss or a crucial contact!
✨Tip Number 3: Showcase Your Expertise
Consider writing articles or sharing insights related to financial controlling or industry trends. Publish these on platforms like LinkedIn to establish yourself as a knowledgeable player in the field. This not only increases your visibility but also catches the attention of recruiters from Grant Thornton.
✨Tip Number 4: Apply Directly on Company Websites
Since you're going for a full-time gig, don't forget to keep an eye on the careers page of companies you're interested in, like Grant Thornton. Many companies prefer candidates who apply through their website as it shows genuine interest and makes your application stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director of Finance - Transformation in Glasgow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers Game:In financial controlling, detail is everything! Make sure your CV showcases your proficiency with numbers—highlight any relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, or working with financial software. Quantifying your past achievements will make you stand out, so don’t be shy about flaunting those impressive percentages or cost savings you've implemented.
Tailored Cover Letter is Key:Your cover letter is a chance to shine, especially for a full-time role. Use it to express your genuine interest in Grant Thornton and the specific impact you hope to make in financial controlling. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the company’s goals, and don’t forget to show that you're ready for a long-term commitment!
Certifications Matter:List relevant certifications such as ACCA or CIMA on your CV. These qualifications not only showcase your dedication to the field but also your technical competence in financial principles. If you have any ongoing training or courses, make sure to mention those as well to demonstrate your commitment to continual learning in financial controlling.
Don’t Overlook Soft Skills:While numbers are crucial, so are those soft skills! Financial controllers need strong communication and analytical reasoning abilities. We recommend embedding examples of these skills in your CV and cover letter, like how you’ve successfully delivered financial reports to stakeholders or collaborated with teams to improve processes. Let’s show Grant Thornton how you can be a team player!
How to prepare for a job interview at Grant Thornton
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
If you've had experience with specific financial software like SAP or Oracle, make it known! Be ready to discuss how you used these tools to improve processes or reporting, as this hands-on knowledge can really set you apart in a full-time role with Grant Thornton.
✨Know Your Numbers
In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.
✨Connect with Company Goals
Familiarise yourself with Grant Thornton's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answers—this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!
