Alternatively, Grant Thornton

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance. A true alternative.

With over 5,000 people in the UK, and a presence in 150 global markets, we're on an ambitious journey, from great to exceptional, and we need the best people to help us achieve our potential. And with that comes the opportunity to help redefine what our industry looks like, and what you want from your career.

Job Description:

People & Culture Commercial Assistant Manager  

People & Culture (P&C) sits at the heart of Grant Thornton UK, supporting a firm of around 5,500 people. This role sits within the Chief People Officer's office, reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, and combines commercial analysis with the operational rigour that keeps P&C running smoothly day to day.

The role combines the analytical, presentation-led work of turning data and insight into decision-ready materials, and the operational discipline of budgets, governance and project tracking that make sure P&C's priorities actually land. You'll support across all People & Culture priorities, managing project trackers, building and interpreting analysis and supporting with the preparation of materials for SLT and board meetings, and own the mechanics – budgets, meeting cadence, action tracking and delivery trackers – that keep the CPO's priorities visible and on track.

This role is suited to someone who is equally comfortable with numbers and narrative, brings real project management discipline, and is confident using AI tools - whether that's interrogating data, drafting first cuts of papers, or keeping trackers current. You'll work closely with the Chief of Staff and Chief People Officer, as well as the People Data Reporting Manager and P&C leadership team.

In this role, you'll gain direct exposure to the Chief People Officer, the Chief of Staff and senior P&C leadership, and support the analytical and operational levers that shape decisions across the firm. You'll build a broad network across P&C, Finance and the wider business, and the credibility that comes with being trusted with senior-level material – alongside the chance to build a genuinely hybrid skill set across commercial analysis, project management and AI-enabled ways of working, and to shape your next move within P&C or more widely.

What you'll be doing

• Providing flexible operational and analytical support to the Chief People Officer and Chief of Staff across priority areas as they arise, exercising discretion with confidential material.

• Applying project management discipline to the CPO's key strategic priorities – maintaining delivery trackers, chasing inputs, surfacing risks and keeping plans current as projects evolve.

• Using AI tools fluently to accelerate analysis, first drafts and data interpretation, while applying judgement to check outputs before they reach senior audiences.

• Coordinating with colleagues across People Operations, Resourcing, and Learning to keep operational activity on track and aligned.

• Supporting budget management for P&C: tracking actual spend against plan, flagging variances early, and producing monthly financial reporting with clear commentary for the CPO and P&C leadership team, in partnership with Finance business partners.

• Providing commercial and workforce analysis – headcount, cost, partner pipeline and other key metrics – working from data and definitions provided by the People Data Reporting Manager and Data Office.

• Preparing and quality-checking decks, papers and board materials for SLT and board meetings, coordinating input from contributors across P&C to tight deadlines.

• Tracking actions and decisions from key meetings through to completion, chasing owners and flagging slippage to the Chief of Staff.

About you

We're looking for someone who combines strong attention to detail with project management experience, is fluent with AI tools, and is confident interpreting and presenting data, a numerical degree or accountancy qualification would be beneficial. You'll be:

• Meticulous, with a strong eye for accuracy and consistency in numbers, narrative and formatting alike

• Comfortable running trackers, chasing inputs and holding a plan together under pace and changing priorities

• A confident, fluent user of AI tools for analysis, drafting and data interpretation

• Strong with data and financial information, able to build, monitor and report against budgets and forecasts and to draw insight rather than just present it

• A confident PowerPoint and Excel user, able to turn detailed or technical information into clear, board and SLT-ready materials. 

• Discreet and commercially aware, with sound judgement handling confidential and sensitive material

• A clear written and verbal communicator, able to summarise complex material accurately and concisely.