Grant Thornton launches GT Augment across its UK workforce this summer, setting pace for change in professional services market
GT Augment is the Grant Thornton UK framework for its approach to AI (the governance, the standards and the way it works) and was launched internally last month. Today Grant Thornton confirms it has become one of the first major UK accountancy firms to embed generative AI across its entire workforce, as professional services firms move to transform how advice is delivered and respond to client demand for high-value advisory.
The firm will roll out Anthropic’s Claude to all partners and employees across Audit, Tax, Advisory and support teams from June to August, as part of a £500m investment aimed at shifting work away from process-heavy tasks and towards higher-value judgement and advice. The move reflects a wider shift across the industry. As analysis, documentation and routine workflows become increasingly automated, firms are under pressure to demonstrate that clients are paying for expertise, not process.
Grant Thornton’s bet is that embedding AI into day-to-day work will allow its teams to spend less time on repetitive tasks and more on interpreting complex issues, anticipating risk and advising clients on decisions.
David Gartside, Chief Digital Officer at Grant Thornton UK, said too many firms risk mistaking visibility for impact when it comes to AI:
“The firms that win won’t be the ones talking the most about AI. They’ll be the ones using it so well it barely gets mentioned. This isn’t about AI theatre. It’s about changing how work gets done in ways clients can feel, even if they don’t see the mechanics behind it.”
Claude will be used across audit, tax and advisory work at Grant Thornton, supporting tasks such as analysis, drafting and synthesising large volumes of information. This will increase the consistency and depth of its output rather than replace professional judgement.
Clients will continue to work directly with advisers, who remain accountable for the advice they give.
Malcolm Gomersall, Chief Executive of Grant Thornton UK, said the fundamental value proposition of the firm remains unchanged:
“As questions grow around the role of AI in professional services, it’s our fundamental belief that the best technology in the room is still the person sitting across the table. Clients don’t pay for process; they pay for judgement. AI will make client outcomes stronger by helping us to deliver more insight, challenge and advice, which is always grounded in our deep experience.”
The rollout will take place in phases over the summer, supported by training and governance frameworks designed to ensure the technology is used safely and responsibly.
The firm says its approach is to embed AI into everyday work rather than treat it as a standalone capability. The investment forms part of a broader transformation programme focused on simplifying delivery and increasing the proportion of higher-value advisory work.
Alongside the rollout, Grant Thornton plans to open a Digital Experience Centre in London later this year, where clients will be able to work with the firm on technology-enabled approaches to service delivery and business transformation.