Southampton: Grant Thornton sees fourth successive year of growth

Leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP has recorded its fourth successive year of strong performance, with turnover up 13% to £471 million for the financial year ended June 30, 2013. 

The predominantly organic growth comes on the back of double digit performance in the previous year and puts Grant Thornton well in reach of achieving its ambition 2015 revenue target of £500m one year early.

Stephen Mills, practice leader for Grant Thornton's Southampton office, said the firm’s results locally reflected the strong national picture. He added: “This has been evident through the expansion of our team over the past year, with our personal tax compliance unit in particular seeing stellar growth.”

Nationally, Grant Thornton’s growth was driven in large part by continued strengthening of the advisory practice, which grew by 21.2%. The firm also saw its audit practice improve by 9.2%.

Distributable profits rose 6% over the period, albeit the average profit per partner rose by 4.2% due to the continued investment in new partners in growing parts of the business. The firm's total contribution to the Exchequer in respect of all taxes was £161.8m, with an average rate of tax paid per partner on this year's profits estimated at 42.5%.

Grant Thornton's ongoing focus on, and investment in, its people saw the firm promote 25 partners and directors in the year; while also taking on 280 new trainees.

Mills commented: "During the past five years, we've pursued a very deliberate strategy of investing in those parts of our business where we could take market-leading positions – such as in the public sector audit and financial services space – along with reinforcing our strengths in our core mid-market segment.

"The investment we've made in our brand, and ensuring our people understand what it means and how they deliver its values, is now truly paying dividends. We've seen a step change in the way the market responds to us and importantly, how we react to opportunities – taking a more cohesive, joined-up approach utilising our in-depth sector and service line expertise.

"There are of course continued challenges in the marketplace, and our business model is clearly delivering. As economic confidence grows, our position as a standout brand within the marketplace means we look positively towards to the long-term future."