Grant Thornton names Emma Stoddart a partner in North West

Accountancy and consultancy firm Grant Thornton has promoted Emma Stoddart to partner. Based in the firm’s Liverpool office, Stoddart will continue to serve as head of audit for the North West region. 

Emma Stoddart has nearly 20 years of experience in audit and assurance. She joined Grant Thornton in 1998 as a trainee, based at the Liverpool office, and remained faithful to the firm ever since. She specialises in working with owner managed businesses and private limited companies based in Liverpool and across the North West, across a range of sectors including professional practices, manufacturing, retail, hotel and leisure, property and local governments.

Over the past years Stoddart has grown rapidly through the firm’s ranks. In 2010 she was appointed a Director, at the time becoming Grant Thornton’s first female director in Liverpool, after being promoted from Manager. In her current role Stoddart serves as head of audit for Grant Thornton in the North West, responsible for leading the firm’s 100+ strong team that provides audit and assurance services to companies across the region.

On the back of her “significant contribution” to the growth of the audit team, according to Carl Williams, Grant Thornton’s North West managing partner*, the firm has promoted her to the partner level. “I’m delighted with the promotion to partner and thankful to the firm for the support and opportunities presented to me since joining as a trainee,” comments Stoddart.

Williams adds: “Emma’s promotion to partner is apt recognition of both her contribution to the firm and the professional expertise she offers Grant Thornton’s clients.” The move further aligns closely with Grant Thornton’s “ideology of developing, retaining and rewarding talent”, he says, pointing at the firm’s strong focus on diversity and inclusion.

Looking ahead, Stoddart says she looks forward to continuing her role in the North West – the firm’s largest base outside of London – and a region which according to her houses a “vibrant economy”. “The investment and development in the region presents a great opportunity for businesses.”

Stoddart’s appointment follows a series of partner additions made over the past months. A few weeks ago corporate finance experts Keely Woodley and Usman Malik were promoted to partner, based in London, and prior to that, Alex Ellerton and David Morrey (joined the firm’s Financial Services practice), and Dan Rosinke, Rachel Engwell and Martin Barron (based in Yorkshire) were added to the partnership.

Nationally, Grant Thornton UK has revenues of £521 million, while globally the firm books a fee income of $4.7 billion.

* Williams has been North West managing partner since April 2014, when he succeeded Les Ross, who retired in the summer of that year after more than 35 years with the business.