Grant Thornton makes two partner promotions in audit team

Grant Thornton UK LLP has announced the promotion of two new partners in its audit team.

The firm said Jon Oakey, based in Gatwick, and Madeleine Malenczuk, based in Oxford, will lead in “driving quality, building sustainable value, and developing talent” across the South of England.

In Oakey’s new role he will lead Grant Thornton’s 75-strong Gatwick audit department and support the team’s growth and skills progression to ensure that it can provide the “key capabilities” required by businesses across the South East.

Oakey began his career as a trainee at Grant Thornton 20 years ago and over this time
has strengthened the Gatwick office’s reputation as an exemplar of audit quality.

Meanwhile, Malenczuk will manage and grow the Oxford office’s portfolio of clients across the Thames Valley and Southampton.

In her 20 years at Grant Thornton, Malenczuk has undertaken secondments to the ethics department and technical team, giving her capabilities to deal with technical issues and lead “quality” audits.

This has enhanced Grant Thornton’s presence in a wide range of sectors including the region’s tech, health and life science and green industries as well as with many PE backed and international organisations.

As the regional people lead for audit, Malenczuk will be central to developing the team and ensuring a diverse, inclusive environment. Her experience in this area includes setting up audit offices in Belfast and the recent establishment of a back-to-work group for parents to best assist people during this time of their lives.

Oakey said: “It’s a fantastic privilege to be leading Grant Thornton’s South East audit department, which is full of incredibly talented and dedicated people. I’m looking forward to helping enhance the team and taking our highly supportive culture, which has been an important part of my own career, even further.

“Being based in Gatwick, the office has an in-depth understanding of the South East market, what’s important to business leaders and how they can be guided to achieve their objectives. This is a particularly exciting space, with a lot of growth and many innovative companies attracting a lot of PE investment. Grant Thornton is committed to ensuring that these businesses have the audit, tax, and wider advisory guidance they need right on their doorstep.”

Malenczuk added: “Grant Thornton has a long history in the Thames Valley and Southampton region, and we’re always investing in the team to ensure that it’s on hand and ready to help businesses. Grant Thornton revolves around its people, an ethos I’m eager to continue and reinforce for our existing as well as new team members.

“The region’s burgeoning market encapsulates a wide variety of sectors and specialisms, ranging from long established companies to new tech or life sciences spin outs. The region is also leading the way in another crucial field, with a lot of investment and R&D in the renewables market and ESG related products. In the Thames Valley and Southampton, it’s also important to be aware of international pressures and opportunities, with many local businesses eager to export, while overseas companies are interested in the ideas and expertise cultivated here.”