The new team brings together existing Grant Thornton public sector specialists as well as a number of key external appointments and is designed to complement GT’s broader public sector advisory services.

It will provide  a range of bespoke services for clients including financial management and accounting advice, supporting the review and development of medium-term financial plans and strategies, financial resilience health checks, finance department ‘fit for purpose reviews’, governance reviews, and supporting elected members in their scrutiny roles.

The team will also offer specialist help for clients in relation to their collaboration activity, including options appraisal, business case development and review, due diligence, business planning advice and collaboration health checks for various alternative service delivery models such as shared services, establishment of local authority trusts, companies and mutual spin offs.

Paul Dossett, partner and head of local government at Grant Thornton, said: ‘Our investment in this team confirms the priority and importance that Grant Thornton places on the public sector, and is in response to our clients request for additional support in navigating the financial challenges faced by the sector.’