Emily Cheevers is a Partner and Head of Retail Audit at Grant Thornton. She started her career in audit in Dublin, moved to London four years later, and spent almost two decades in the profession before joining the firm as a partner in 2021.
Today she's building a retail audit practice, and she's just as hands on at home as she is at work. Here she talks about what drove her, why she made the move, the challenges along the way, the people who backed her and how flexible working fits around her family. Her advice to other women considering the same step: be yourself.
What drove me
When I was 14, an accountancy teacher told me I'd never be an accountant. That gave me extra fire in my belly to go and do exactly that.
I started out in audit in Dublin and spent four years there before heading to the bright lights of London, where I stayed nearly 16 years. Looking back, my career has been a pretty straight line. It's always been audit.
Partnership was never a goal I chased. I just did my best and never compared myself to anyone else. I genuinely love what I do, I think that shows, and it's probably why I'm good at it.
I was telling my sister about my job recently and how much I love it, and she cried happy tears. She said she's never heard anyone talk about their job the way I do.
The person who inspired me most was a partner at my previous firm, one of the nicest people ever, and someone I try to live by. He treated everyone the same, with equal respect, whatever their position. Some people think that as they progress they're above others, and that really upsets me. So I try to follow his example and be kind to everyone.
The people behind me, and a career that fits my life
At every stage of my career, someone has backed me. I'm ambitious, but most of my promotions came from other people pushing me rather than me pushing myself.
There were times I questioned whether audit was right for me. Midway through my training contract I nearly left, but some of the partners at the time talked me into sticking it out a bit longer, and I'm so glad they did.
When I started at Grant Thornton, the partner team around me were fantastic. They reminded me that it takes time, to keep doing the right things and it will come.
And it did.
Day to day, what helps is regular check-ins, praise (I know it's something I need to do my best work) and help seeing the small steps I'm taking to build the business I want. A special mention to Nick Paige and Marc Summers, who help me see the voice of reason.
I'm surrounded by women who inspire me. There are so many female role models in the Audit Leadership Team and the Senior Leadership Team and they all inspire me. Wendy, as head of audit, is a breath of fresh air and, like me, a working mum who is hands on with her kids.
“I've never missed a school performance or game. That's really important to me.”
I love the variety. I plan ahead and spend lots of time out in the market, meeting targets and new businesses, mostly over breakfast or coffee. I like managing my own time and diary, I feel far more empowered, and I thrive on that energy.
That control of my time matters just as much at home. I've got two boys, aged eight and 10, and I often joke that my second job is being a football mum. Pretty much every evening and weekend I'm in a muddy field watching them play, and I absolutely love it. It's a big contrast to the glam of work, where I get to work alongside some of the most fabulous brands in retail. But I wouldn't change a thing.
My way of working can look a bit odd, with earlier mornings and later evenings, but it works for me, my clients and my team.
Why consider Grant Thornton
For me, joining Grant Thornton was genuinely the best career decision I've made, and I'm just sorry I didn't do it sooner.
Leaving a firm and joining a new one at a senior level can feel daunting, and I hear so many people say they're afraid to do it. Here's what I'd tell them: I've been trusted to build my own practice, I'm backed by a brilliant partner team, and I've shaped my working week around my family.
If you're thinking about a move like mine, here's what I'd say. Do what you enjoy, come in with a smile on your face, don't be afraid to be vulnerable and be honest with yourself. I'm me and I never pretend to be anyone else. I'm upfront about what works for me and where I need to be, and I don't make excuses. The firm respects that.
Honestly, finding an industry I love makes me buzz. I'm excited to come into work every day.
Emily came to Grant Thornton to build something, and found people who backed her. At Grant Thornton, we’re looking for people who want to build a different kind of firm.