Global independence team

The growing volume of services provided to international clients by Grant Thornton member firms, coupled with an increasingly regulated environment, has made compliance with independence requirements a complex process. In order to assist Grant Thornton member firms to navigate this ever changing environment, a global independence team is in place. The global independence team responsibilities include: 

• compliance monitoring 
• independence training 
• providing member firms with guidance relating to independence policy 
• oversight of the GIS 
• maintaining an international relationship checking process designed to prevent non audit services being provided to an audit client without appropriate consultation with the audit partner and, where applicable, the client’s audit committee.

The global independence team is led by the executive director – risk and regulatory matters. The executive director – risk and regulatory matters also oversees the development and maintenance of global independence policies and procedures, communication to member firms regarding these policies and liaises with others in the Grant Thornton organisation to ensure that threats to independence are identified, evaluated and appropriate safeguards put in place when necessary.