Grant Thornton Restructures Leadership, Launches Paid Placement Degree Programme with UK University
Published on 08/18/2026 at 23:42 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The accounting and advisory firm Grant Thornton has created a dedicated Chief People Officer role as part of a wider strategic overhaul, signalling a sharper focus on workforce planning and organisational development. The move, announced on 18 August 2026, places human capital strategy directly at board level for the first time.
The new position arrives as the firm wrestles with a dual challenge: attracting skilled professionals in a competitive market while helping clients navigate increasingly difficult exit conditions in private equity.
Leeds Partnership Offers Four-Year Route to ACA Qualification
On the talent front, Grant Thornton has teamed up with the University of Leeds to design a bespoke Bachelor's degree in Accounting & Finance. Dubbed the "Talent Track," the four-year programme is built around paid work placements, with a substantial 15-month practical phase slotted into the third year of study.
Students on the course also gain access to an ACA fast-track, accelerating their path toward chartered accountancy certification. The first cohort is scheduled to begin in September 2026. By embedding workplace experience directly into the curriculum, the firm hopes to cultivate a pipeline of recruits who are already familiar with its operations and standards before they graduate.
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Spanish Private Equity Market Shows Signs of Bottleneck
Separate research published by the firm paints a mixed picture for investors in Spain. While 2025 saw considerable activity — 440 deals with a combined investment volume of €35.6 billion — the number of exits lagged far behind at just 145.
That imbalance is expected to widen over the next two years as a wave of investments made in 2021 and 2022 reaches maturity. Already, 42 percent of surveyed funds report difficulties executing planned divestments. The logjam is not deterring new commitments, however: roughly 80 percent of funds say they intend to expand their investment activity further.
Grant Thornton's analysts caution that the combination of a looming exit deadline and persistent disposal challenges could create a prolonged period of stagnation for portfolio returns. The findings underscore a growing demand for advice on portfolio restructuring — a service area the firm appears keen to bolster through its renewed emphasis on senior leadership and internal capability building.
