Real Estate Tax Associate Director

Grant Thornton strengthens Financial Advisory practice with David Fennell. 05 October 2026 Consultancy.com.au Grant Thornton has welcomed David Fennell as a Partner in its Financial Advisory practice, strengthening its financial modelling and commercial advisory capability in Melbourne. Fennell brings more than 20 years of professional services experience, supporting executives as they negotiate contracts, pursue growth opportunities and assess investments in property, plant and operational infrastructure. His work combines financial modelling with an understanding of finance, payment structures, contractual frameworks and operational considerations. His work focuses on connecting financial analysis with strategic, operational and commercial considerations, helping organisations make informed decisions on significant projects and investments. He advises on project decision models, contract negotiations, competitive tenders, debt sourcing and operational financial models. He has extensive experience in the transport sector, advising operators as they renew contracts, pursue growth and respond to industry change. His experience includes the commercial and financial frameworks underpinning Australian transport contracts, as well as the operational and investment considerations associated with the electrification of bus networks and the transition of fleets and depots. Commenting on his new challenge at Grant Thornton, Fennell said he was pleased to join the partnership and contribute to the firm's financial advisory capability. "Organisations are making increasingly complex investment and operational decisions, often involving competing commercial priorities and significant long-term implications." "The most effective financial models do more than produce numbers. They create a clear foundation for discussions about strategy, risk and opportunity. I look forward to working with clients and colleagues at Grant Thornton to support confident, well-informed decision-making." Andrew Hewitt, partner in the Financial Advisory practice of Grant Thornton, said: "David brings a practical and commercially grounded approach to complex financial and operational questions. His ability to connect detailed financial analysis with strategic and contractual considerations will be valuable to clients making significant investment, tender and operational decisions." "His appointment strengthens the support Grant Thornton can provide across the full lifecycle of major projects, from assessing opportunities and structuring competitive bids to negotiating contracts and monitoring operational performance." Across Australia, Grant Thornton has more than 1,500 people working in offices in Tarndanya (Adelaide), Meeanjin (Brisbane), Gimuy (Cairns), Naarm (Melbourne), Boorloo (Perth) and Warrang (Sydney). In August, the company joined the network's private equity-backed platform, Grant Thornton Advisors.

Why autonomous finance won't be built alone. Published September 24, 2026, 1:03 p.m. EDT Not long ago, finance leaders were asking whether AI belonged in finance at all. Today the question has shifted: How can they deploy it in ways they can actually trust? This Q&A offers insights from a conversation with David Yue, co-founder and CEO at Accordance, on the opportunity AI presents to accountants and why... Chief partner officer Mekaela Davis is chief partner officer at Trintech and a former managing director and alliance director at Grant Thornton.

Gravita appoints Chris Hawes as first head of ethics. Former Grant Thornton lead Chris Hawes joins Gravita to head its expanding quality and risk function Quick Poll What is your biggest focus right now? One click - no sign-up All data is anonymised. Polling helps Accountancy Group better understand the Accountancy Today audience and tailor its editorial. Select a subscription plan. Gravita has appointed Chris Hawes as its first head of ethics, creating a dedicated role covering ethics and independence as the accountancy and advisory firm continues to expand. Hawes joins from Grant Thornton, where he led on technical ethics matters and brings 18 years of experience to the role. He has also worked through major revisions to the FRC Ethical Standard. He will join Gravita's five-strong quality and risk team and report to Ian Cokayne, chief legal and risk officer. His remit will cover the firm's approach to ethics and independence, including requirements relating to its public interest entity audit work. This will include the services provided by the firm, its relationships with clients and the personal financial interests of its people. The appointment comes after a period of expansion for Gravita, which has been backed by private equity investor Tenzing and has added seven firms to its business since 2022. The firm now has around 500 employees across offices in London, Oxford, Essex, Bristol and Exeter. Nearly 1,000 new clients joined Gravita last year. Hawes will focus on strengthening internal guidance and training, with the aim of helping employees make decisions on ethical matters and identify when additional support is required. He will also work on systems to identify ethics and independence threats at an early stage. Lisa Mayhew, chief executive of Gravita, said: "A dedicated ethics role is unusual for a firm of its size, where responsibility for ethics is more commonly held alongside a wider risk or compliance remit, so creating one is a deliberate choice on its part. "Gravita has built real momentum over the past few years and the firms and colleagues joining us expect the same standards of quality and independence that our clients do. As we continue to grow, Chris's experience will help us to maintain those standards while building the infrastructure we need for the future." Hawes added: "Ethics and independence are not simply regulatory requirements. They are fundamental to the confidence that clients and the wider public place in our work. What drew me to Gravita is the chance to make a real difference at a firm with genuine ambition. Having worked in much larger firms, I know both what good looks like and where legacy systems slow firms down, so the opportunity here is to combine the two and build something effective that is designed to scale." Published: 2m ago