Leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP has announced a trio of promotions within its Public Sector Audit team in the South West.
Based in Bristol, Barrie Morris' promotion to Public Sector Audit Partner follows a 25-year career in auditing. His new role positions him to lead the 80-strong South West audit team, overseeing the delivery of timely, high quality and efficient external audits for public sector organisations.
Supporting Barrie Morris in the day-to-day operations of the team will be Beth Bowers and Grace Hawkins, both of whom have been promoted to Public Sector Audit Director.
For Barrie, creating an understanding of the value of external audits is a key part of the process. His vision is to build a strong and passionate team with the agility to assess the varied risks, strengths, and challenges of these organisations. He aims to focus on the importance of the team enjoying the work while ensuring they are working collaboratively to deliver exceptional results.
Barrie's commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment is evident in his track record of supporting career development and progression within the Public Sector Audit team. During his tenure at Grant Thornton, he has played a critical role in seeing Managers progress to Director level.
From Caerphilly, Grace Hawkins’ promotion will see her continue to support clients from Cornwall up to Herefordshire and across into Berkshire, providing advice and insights into how an organisations’ arrangements can deliver better value for money.
As People, Inclusion & Diversity Lead in the Public Sector Audit team in the South West, Grace has implemented initiatives and activities to drive forward Grant Thornton’s I&D agenda, supporting the positive culture within the team. As part of this role, she has initiated a drive for more detailed, timely and constructive feedback to support career development conversations and continuous improvement through regular communication, training, and sharing of best practice.
Beth Bowers will provide assurance and guidance for stakeholders on how their organisations operate, from her base in Bath. Holding a dual qualification with ICAS and CIPFA, Beth’s role as quality lead has seen her successfully implement a number of initiatives that have supported improvements in audit quality both locally and nationally. Beth also supports the training of new team members and has helped to facilitate the promotion journeys of a number of talented colleagues in recent years.
Between them they bring over 50 years’ experience working in public sector auditing to their new roles, with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in guiding a range of clients through the auditing process. The challenges these clients face can vary greatly, from those of urban councils such as Bristol to the more rural aspects of public sector services.
The team have the challenge of delivering tough messages while striving to improve the timeliness of reporting and external audits, often analysing and managing the financial complexities and realities of organisations such as NHS Trusts and local authorities.
Mark Stocks, National Partner for Public Sector Audit for Grant Thornton UK LLP, said:
“In external audits, building trust is fundamental to ensuring that client needs are met, and that compliance is achieved. I have no doubt that Barrie’s positive attitude will put clients at ease and that he will equip the team to guide clients through what can sometimes be a daunting process, but nonetheless a vital one, to ensure that public money is being spent with the utmost care.”
Barrie Morris, Public Sector Audit Partner for Grant Thornton UK LLP, said:
“Public sector auditing is a crucial part of ensuring that taxpayer money is being used to its full potential, and I’m pleased to lead the team in upholding the highest standards in compliance. It’s an important job and I find that a bit of enthusiasm goes a long way.
“A strong interest in public services also helps, after all, these are the services we all rely on every day. With a team of dedicated public sector audit professionals, Grant Thornton will continue to help protect these vital services through efficient, timely and financially rigorous reporting.”
Grace Hawkins, Public Sector Audit Director for Grant Thornton UK LLP, said:
“I’m proud to support an excellent team in the South West through this promotion, and also in my role as People, Inclusion & Diversity Lead for the Public Sector Audit team in the South West for Grant Thornton. The role enables me to provide support for people managers and the wider team, supporting them in their career development from their initial interview and orientation right through to qualification and future promotions. This challenging aspect of my role is incredibly rewarding and I’m looking forward to continuing to support and grow the team.”
Beth Bowers, Public Sector Audit Director for Grant Thornton UK LLP, said:
“I believe that one of the key drivers of a successful team is to ensure that everybody feels able to bring their full self to work. Leading the team in the South West, I will support our local talent in their development while also encouraging them to harness the power of their differences in support of our shared objectives.”
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