Grant Thornton in Birmingham is celebrating double digit growth in commercial audit revenues and an expanded senior team with newly promoted associate director Natalie Gladwin and appointment of fellow associate director John Coates.
The business and finance adviser has boosted commercial audit revenues in Birmingham by 27 per cent over the last three years, with almost 100 people now working with the office’s portfolio of dynamic and growing businesses. Audit wins in 2016 include motorsport and technology specialist Prodrive, international flooring group Victoria PLC, hybrid estate agency Purplebricks and the prestigious Edgbaston Priory Club, which has recently undergone a multi-million pound redevelopment.
Becky Eagle, partner and head of commercial audit, said: “Over the last three years we’ve noticed a marked change in what clients need from their auditors. Our appointment is just the beginning. Clients are looking for deeper advice on how to unlock their businesses’ potential for growth and this requires us to have the right people in place with the right skills and the right attitude. Natalie’s promotion is richly deserved and John’s experience in industry is a valuable addition to the team, particularly in bringing a client’s perspective and knowledge of overseas governance, operations and parentage.”
Natalie Gladwin joined Grant Thornton as a graduate trainee in 2003 and qualified in 2006. Her audit clients include businesses across a variety of industry sectors with a focus on international groups and high growth businesses. Her role also includes recruitment and staff development, working closely with colleagues to ensure their career goals are being met.
John Coates joins the firm’s commercial audit team from Jaguar Land Rover, where he was financial reporting senior manager with responsibilities including external financial reporting and financial process improvement across the group. Prior to that role, John was a director at PwC in Birmingham, where he specialised in providing assurance services to private and private equity backed businesses.
Grant Thornton was named Accounting and Audit Provider of the Year at the 2016 Director of Finance awards for the second year running. The awards recognise the most innovative and dynamic teams and individuals within the financial sector.