The Executive Director is responsible for activating and overseeing the Global Advisory strategy across the Grant Thornton network. This includes driving cross-network collaboration, managing budgets, and overseeing technology enablement and quality standards.
Grant Thornton is seeking an Executive Director, Global Advisory to join the team in Arlington, VA.
Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading professional services networks with member firms in over 130 countries, 58,000 people and global revenues of $5.7bn. Member firms offer audit, tax, and advisory services to privately owned companies, publicly listed companies, public sector and not for profit organisations, both domestically and internationally.
Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL) is the umbrella legal entity for the Grant Thornton global network of member firms. GTIL sets the strategic direction, convenes member firms, connects global communities, and protects the brand and reputation of the network. GTIL and the member firms will continually improve the sustainability of their operations and strive to make a positive impact on clients, people, markets, and the communities in which we operate, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Executive director, Global advisory is a senior leader responsible for activating the Global advisory strategy across the Grant Thornton network. The role combines strategic leadership and operational execution to ensure the quality expectations, market demands, and technological needs of the global advisory practice are realized. The Executive director acts as a trusted advisor and change maker to senior global leadership and member firm heads of advisory. Operating with substantial autonomy, the Executive director has significant influence over priorities, resource allocation, and accountability for outcomes.
In partnership with the Global COO, the Executive director drives cross-network collaboration through the sharing of knowledge and best practice and the facilitation of working groups and idea forums for member firm advisory leaders.
This is a virtual, globally‑scoped role, offering flexibility in location. The Executive director must be able to operate effectively in a remote environment and collaborate across multiple time zones to deliver assigned projects and priorities.
Main responsibilities
Leadership and strategy
Act as a steward of the Global advisory strategy, translating vision into measurable, scalable initiatives
Align strategy with quality, capability and technology priorities to ensure long-term success and resilience
Develop and execute a communications plan tied to the global advisory strategy
Partner with global and member firm leadership to facilitate multi-stakeholder decision-making
Develop and manage the annual advisory service line budget, monitoring performance against plan and taking appropriate action to address variances.
Oversee global advisory performance tracking and reporting
Promote a culture of knowledge sharing, respect and mutual success across the global advisory community
Collaboration, capability and stakeholder alignment
Build and maintain trusted, high‑impact relationships with member firm heads of advisory, supporting their understanding of the global advisory strategy and helping to strengthen cross‑network collaboration.
Identify, own and actively manage opportunitiesfor GTIL to support member firm advisory priorities, ensuring consistent alignment with global network and advisory strategies
Develop and drive execution of mechanisms to spotlight advisory capabilities available across the network
Promote knowledge-sharing and adoption of leading practices
Connect advisory practitioners from across the network via steering committees, working groups, and leadership forums in response to member firm needs
Quality, policy and risk mitigation
Oversee, identify and implement opportunities to drive efficiencies for the advisory authorisation processes and ensure alignment with other global service line processes
Act as the central interface between global teams and member firms on authorisations, including supporting remediation and consistency of outcomes
Engage with the global quality team to provide feedback into and receive results from advisory GTARs
Lead the development and adoption of global advisory standards, methodologies, and tools
Ensure consistent, clear communication of policy expectations across the network
Oversee the design, operation, and effectiveness of advisory-related controls within the quality management framework, including ISQM 1
Technology enablement
Own and maintain the advisory technology roadmap in consultation with global member firm advisory leaders
Represent advisory interests in vendor governance, procurement, risk, and assessment activities
Oversee coordinated global rollout and adoption of enterprise tools in collaboration with central functions
Lead the creation of use cases, scope, and ownership for tools and platforms that drive efficiency, consistency and value across advisory services globally
Leverage technology to create efficiencies and drive effectiveness GTIL advisory activities
Person specification
Education backgrounds may vary, but should demonstrate preparation for the responsibilities outlined above
Educated to degree level (desirable)
Experience
Extensive senior‑level experience in advisory or professional services across internal and/or client‑facing roles.
Demonstrated ability to operate as a self‑directed leader, setting strategic direction, defining milestones, and delivering complex technical, programme, and supervisory objectives with minimal oversight.
Proven effectiveness working across multiple disciplines, cultures and geographies, with the ability to navigate linguistic and cultural differences in a global environment.
Strong track record of influencing and working with senior leaders and executives to align priorities and deliver shared outcomes.
Highly developed interpersonal and leadership skills, characterised by a collaborative, authentic and respectful approach.
Ability to operate with agility and resilience, responding positively to change and contributing innovative thinking in evolving and ambiguous contexts.
Demonstrated experience making sound, high‑impact decisions affecting results, timelines, budgets and strategic outcomes, and leading others to deliver against global objectives.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly and persuasively to senior and diverse audiences.
Strong organisational capability, including the ability to manage multiple, competing priorities and complex initiatives simultaneously.
Evidence of a global and enterprise mindset, including a strong understanding of external market forces, industry trends and factors influencing long‑term sustainable growth.
A pragmatic appreciation of what can be delivered effectively at market level, balancing global strategic objectives with local commercial realities, sensitivities and competing member‑firm priorities.
Proven confidence in facilitating and leading discussions among senior leaders, driving constructive dialogue, informed decision‑making and mutually beneficial outcomes.
Experience – Desirable
Experience working within a global professional services environment, engaging effectively with international stakeholders.
Experience using a range of communication channels, including digital and social platforms, to support engagement and collaboration.
The base salary range for this position is between $200,000 and $270,000. Placement within the pay range is at Grant Thornton’s discretion, and it is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, progression within the role, geographic location, and internal equity. At Grant Thornton, compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.
At Grant Thornton, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result – for our clients and you. Here, we go beyond your expectations of a career in professional services by offering a career path with more: more opportunity, more flexibility, and more support. It’s what makes us different, and we think being different makes us better.
In the U.S., Grant Thornton delivers professional services through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ― and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services.
In 2025, Grant Thornton formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform offers a premier Trans-Atlantic advisory and tax practice, as well as independent American and Irish audit practices. With $2.7 billion in revenues and more than 50 offices spanning the U.S., Ireland and other territories, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of 12,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture.
Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets.
Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL) is the umbrella legal entity for the Grant Thornton global network of member firms. GTIL sets the strategic direction, convenes member firms, connects global communities, and protects the brand and reputation of the network. GTIL and the member firms will continually improve the sustainability of their operations and strive to make a positive impact on clients, people, markets, and the communities in which we operate, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our headquarters are based in London and we have around 160 employees and secondees in 20 different countries. All the employees hired outside of the UK are employed by the local member firm and assigned to GTIL through a specific agreement. Through a global assignment, you will have a chance for both professional and personal development- working with colleagues around the world and developing your global network across various boundaries and time zones.
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