Expense Analytics Associate Director

Associate Director of Expense Analytics

Grant Thornton is seeking an Associate Director of Expense Analytics to lead the firm’s end‑to‑end expense management function, ensuring consistent policy application, strong governance, and operational excellence firmwide. This role oversees expense strategy, system optimization, compliance, audit, and analytics and partners with the Travel, Meetings, Corporate Card, Finance, and other stakeholders to drive alignment and performance.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Governance

• Define and execute an expense management strategy aligned with firm growth and operating model.
• Establish and enforce consistent firmwide T&E policies, ensuring audit‑defensible compliance.
• Drive standardization of processes, controls, and reporting across the firm.

Expense Operations & Process Ownership

• Own the end‑to‑end expense lifecycle, including submission, audit, approval workflows, reimbursement, and financial integration.
• Lead expense tool management, including configuration, process design, and continuous optimization.
• Collaborate with Meetings and Corporate Card teams to ensure seamless integration from pre‑spend through post‑spend processes.
• Oversee vendor relationships supporting expense operations, managing performance and alignment with firmwide objectives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Policy, Compliance & Audit

• Develop and maintain T&E policy aligned with regulatory requirements and firm objectives.
• Oversee audit program, including automated controls, exception handling, and compliance monitoring.
• Lead escalation management and ensure consistent firmwide enforcement.

Analytics & Reporting

• Deliver actionable insights on travel and expense spend, trends, and savings opportunities.
• Develop dashboards and reporting to support leadership decision‑making, budget oversight, and cost management.
• Leverage data to enhance policy effectiveness and identify areas for improved controls or efficiency.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a high‑performing expense team across U.S. and offshore operations, audit, and analytics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or a related field required.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in travel & expense, finance operations, or a related field.
• Experience leading and developing teams across expense operations and analytics, including U.S. and offshore resources.
• Experience implementing and managing T&E systems, automation tools, and reporting platforms (e.g., Emburse, SAP Concur).
• Strong understanding of corporate card programs, expense compliance, and audit best practices.
• Advanced analytical skills with ability to translate data into actionable business insights.
• Ability to drive alignment across business units, supported by strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, including performance oversight and service delivery.
• Strong organizational skills, critical thinking and problem‑solving, attention to detail, and multi‑tasking abilities.

Success Measures

• Increased global policy compliance and reduction in non‑compliant spend.
• Improved visibility and control of total T&E spend.
• Streamlined, standardized processes across regions.
• Delivery of actionable insights that drive cost savings and informed decision‑making.

Salary

The base salary range for this position is between $136,000 and $175,000. Placement within the pay range is at Grant Thornton’s discretion and is based on multiple factors, including job‑related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, progression within the role, geographic location, and internal equity.

Benefits

• Standard health, dental, vision insurance and employee assistance program.
• Paid sick leave and paid holidays during internship and seasonal periods.
• Eligibility for a discretionary annual bonus for full‑time employees based on individual and firm performance.
• Additional benefits and retirement plans details available at https://www.grantthornton.com/careers/rewards-and-benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Grant Thornton to promote equal employment opportunities. All personnel decisions (including recruiting, hiring, training, working conditions, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, evaluations, and termination) are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital or civil union status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic predisposition or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws, Grant Thornton provides reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause undue hardship.

Legal Notice

For Los Angeles Applicants only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. For Massachusetts Applicants only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. Grant Thornton does not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment or continued employment.

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