Grant Thornton establishes Orlando “Center of Excellence” to enhance service offerings nationwide

The firm will employ at least 60 professionals offering unique services that help tax clients turn data into insights

CHICAGO — Grant Thornton LLP, a leading audit, tax and advisory firm, will establish an additional office in the Orlando market: the Grant Thornton Center of Excellence (CoE). This new office, opening August 1, will initially create 60 professional positions — with the potential for future expansion.

In addition to the new opportunities Grant Thornton will bring to Orlando’s diverse workforce, the facility will provide an even greater experience for the firm’s client base. In the CoE’s initial phase, Grant Thornton will enhance its growing national indirect tax practice by focusing on sales/use and property tax compliance and consulting services. The CoE will offer a wide range of benefits, including:

• A fully-dedicated team of professionals focusing on indirect taxes, which are the largest state tax liability for most organizations
• A data-to-insights approach focused on analysis, automation and visualization
• Increased process efficiency to create scalability

“The Center of Excellence is part of how Grant Thornton delivers on our commitment to take care of our people, take care of our clients, and keep our business strong,” said Mark Arrigo, the firm’s national managing partner of State and Local Tax Services. “We are committed to ensuring the highest level of quality and service for our clients, and this project will move us forward in scalability, enhanced use of technology and data analytics — all of which is meant to provide the distinctive client service we are known for in the market.”

Dawn Olivardia, office managing partner for Grant Thornton’s Orlando locations, is also looking forward to the enhanced services offered by the CoE.

“The in-depth insights and unrivaled services our new facility will provide to our clients embodies everything Grant Thornton stands for,” Olivardia said. “We are confident our new CoE will be an incredible place to work for a people-focused firm. That’s precisely why we’ve located it in Orlando — a city that offers one of the most talented workforces in the nation and an unmatched quality of life.”

“We’re thrilled that Grant Thornton is expanding its operations here in Orlando,” added Tim Giuliani, president and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership. “Our team played a critical role in providing the company with talent data and creating a competitive package that secured this project as a win for our region. The jobs created at the Center of Excellence will supply new opportunities for Orlando’s residents.”

Like Giuliani, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer believes the CoE will be a strong addition to the city’s already-thriving business environment.

“The City of Orlando and our partners continue to work hard to diversify our economy, bring high-value jobs to the area, grow our targeted industry sectors and accelerate the city’s reputation as a place for businesses to relocate, expand and thrive,” Dyer said. “Grant Thornton’s decision to expand and open a second Orlando location for their shared services compliance office is a testament to the strides we’ve made in achieving these goals and fostering a healthy business-friendly ecosystem, as well as a high quality of life for new talent locating in Orlando.”

Grant Thornton’s CoE will be located at 5955 TG Lee Boulevard, Suite 200, of the Citadel International II office building in Orlando’s Lee Vista office park. The company will continue to operate its original Orlando office in the downtown area.

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