Director - Pensions AdvisoryJob Description Summary:Our commitment to shaping a Vibrant Economy in the UK is seeing us think differently about almost everything. How we help business thrive. How we empower our people to achieve their full potential. And how we make an impact that reaches further than ever before. Aims like these call for entrepreneurial and inspirational leadership. Which is where you come in. So bring your passion, ambition and ideas and together, let's make change happen.Grant Thornton are one of the leading providers of pension covenant advice to Trustees. The service we provide includes ongoing advice to annuity type clients related to triennial valuations, and advice on the impact of transactions such as refinancing, acquisitions and sales including private equity and trade sales and corporate and scheme restructuring. Our notable assignments in the restructuring space have included Uniq plc, UK Coal plc, Kodak, BHS and House of Fraser where Grant Thornton has typically provided advice or assisted Trustees in negotiating the commercial arrangements underpinning either PPF entry via regulated apportionment arrangements or ongoing scheme support. WE are recognised as a leading adviser in this niche area.Job Description:We are now looking for a driven and credible senior pensions professional to join Grant Thornton as an integral member of the leadership team, location is flexible. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to step into a challenging and rewarding role for a firm that is invested in the growth of our pensions advisory team.The role:you'll advise trustees and sponsoring employers on complex issues surrounding employer covenant assessment, scheme specific funding and the pensions transaction clearance procedurealong with the rest of the team, you'll contribute to the delivery of an individual analysis of a pension scheme's covenant, providing sufficient and appropriate evidence to conclude on the financial strength of its sponsoring employer/s and their ability to make good any the deficit or future shortfall in investment returnschanges in Pensions legislation require trustees of defined benefit pensions schemes to closely monitor the covenant afforded to the scheme by their sponsoring employers and react to 'Type A' events. You will be responsible for advising both trustees and employers in this areaYou'll be an integral part of developing the growth strategy for the team in line with the wider firms goalPeople are key and you will be responsible for developing lasting relationships with clients and colleaguesWho we're looking for:You'll have a genuine interest in working in a consultative way with our client base. We want to provide a distinctive service and unlock potential for growth in dynamic organisations.You'll know that what you do matters. As an organisation we want to be known for how we do business, not simply what we do. So, we need people who know that every act matters from the simple things to the insights we bring to clients.You'll seize opportunities. We want to adapt quickly and wisely to changing conditions to optimise growth for both our clients and ourselves.You'll apply critical reasoning to bring clarity and insight. We do it by asking great questions, listening and drawing on our collective knowledge and experience to really help others growEducation, experience and qualifications:you'll be an experienced covenant adviseryou'll ideally hold a professional accountancy qualification (ACA/CA/ACCA or equivalent) or have a corporate finance qualificationyou'll possibly be JIEB qualified or have other experience of restructuring and/or insolvencyyou'll be a highly commercial and driven individualyou'll have a high level of pensions knowledgeyou'll be an experienced report writeryou'll have strong networking skills and a proven track record in winning workYou'll have a passion for business development and a desire to be involved in developing a strategy for the teamyou'll have significant leadership experienceyou'll have the proven ability to inspire and develop peopleGrant Thornton is one of the world's leading independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. We are driven by independent thinkers that provide high quality business and financial advice to a wide range of clients in countries all over the world.We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where people can flourish, where differences are understood and respected, and everyone is valued.We recognise it's important for us to understand how we can support you in your role, including exploring any reasonable and flexible working adjustments. This flexibility will enable you to bring your full self to work and be at your best.We have taken steps to create an agile working culture where our people are empowered to work where they want, when they want and how they want to deliver the best service for their clients. If you'd like to find out more about our agile or flexible working practices please speak to your recruiter.At Grant Thornton we pride ourselves on the professional standards we expect of our people. We begin setting these standards with our recruitment process where we include rigorous background checks on the people who accept a job offer from us. If we make you an offer you will be contacted directly to give your authorisation for these. Your start date will be dependent on the successful completion of these checks. If you have questions about this process please contact your recruiter.