Grant Thornton strengthens Birmingham team

GRANT Thornton has made two new appointments to its business risk services department in Birmingham.

Lorna Barry joins the advisers as associate director to head the Midlands-based team after 14 years at Deloitte. An internal audit specialist, she has extensive experience in both public and private sectors, latterly working with a wide range of blue chip companies on fraud risk management projects.

In addition to building on Grant Thornton’s business risk services portfolio, Ms Barry will help clients share best practice in what she says is a continually challenging economic environment.

“Both private companies and public sector organisations are battling to deal with complex cost management issues, particularly back-office streamlining or restructuring, while focusing on their core business and maintaining staff motivation,” she said.  

“It is absolutely vital to help these organisations to manage their risk by analysing what activities they need to maintain and how they can be performed in the most economical, effective and timely way possible. It’s also important to remember that cutting staff doesn’t necessarily result in cutting cost. I’m looking forward to helping these organisations move forward, despite the challenges they face, including sharing innovative and practical solutions.”

Joining Ms Barry is manager Karen Reynolds, also from Deloitte, who has wide-ranging internal audit experience in the public sector including the NHS, further education, local and central government. Prior to joining Deloitte 11 years ago, Ms Reynolds worked with a major food retailer.

Dave Munton, office managing partner, said: “Lorna and Karen bring a wealth of valuable experience to our business risk services department, which has grown from strength to strength over the last couple of years and for which we see significant opportunities given the challenges currently faced in both the private and public sectors.”

• More on Grant Thornton