About this role
At Grant Thornton, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result – for our clients and you. Here, we go beyond your expectations of a career in professional services by offering a career path with more: more opportunity, more flexibility, and more support. It’s what makes us different, and we think being different makes us better. In the U.S., Grant Thornton delivers professional services through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ― and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services. In 2025, Grant Thornton formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform offers a premier Trans-Atlantic advisory and tax practice, as well as independent American and Irish audit practices. With $2.7 billion in revenues and more than 50 offices spanning the U.S., Ireland and other territories, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of 12,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture. Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets. The Director, Global Trade & Customs Advisory in a senior leadership role responsible for driving growth, delivery excellence, and market positioning of the firm’s Global Trade practice. This role combines deep customs and global trade technical expertise with executive-level client advisory, revenue generation, and practice leadership responsibilities. The Director leads complex, multi-disciplinary engagements, serves as a trusted advisor to senior client executives, and plays a critical role in expanding the firm’s Global Trade footprint through go-to-market leadership, solution development, and talent development—helping clients navigate regulatory complexity with confidence. Your day-to-day may include: Client Advisory and Engagement Leadership
• Serve as a senior advisor to C-suite and executive-level trade, tax, supply chain, and finance leaders at multinational clients • Lead large-scale, complex Global Trade & Customs Advisory engagements for clients, including multi-country and multi-workstream programs • Provide strategic guidance across customs and trade areas, including: • Import/export compliance and governance • Tariff classification, valuation, and origin strategy • Free trade agreements and duty optimization • Trade remedies, enforcement risk, and regulatory change management
Quality, Risk, and Technical Oversight
• Ensure delivery of high-quality, defensible work products aligned with regulatory requirements and firm risk standards • Review and approve engagement scope, deliverables, and conclusions for technical accuracy and defensibility • Act as a senior escalation point for complex technical and regulatory matters • Ensure compliance with firm independence, quality, and risk management policies Leadership and Practice Development
• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing Global Trade professionals across all levels • Build and scale Global Trade talent capabilities, including technical training and career development initiatives • Collaborate effectively within a matrixed organization, partnering with Tax, Supply Chain, Technology, and Advisory leadership • Drive revenue generation, client relationship management, and overall Global Trade practice growth You have the following technical skills and qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, International Business, Finance, Information Systems, or a related field; advanced degree preferred • Minimum of 12 years of experience in customs and global trade, including significant experience in a professional services environment • Deep technical expertise in U.S. and international customs and global trade regulations • Proven experience leading Global Trade technology implementations and large-scale advisory engagements • Demonstrated success in revenue generation, client relationship management, and practice growth • Strong executive-level communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills The base salary for this position in the Metro DC – Arlington location only is between $234,986 and $255,420. Placement within the pay range is at Grant Thornton’s discretion, and it is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job -related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, progression within the role, geographic location, and internal equity. At Grant Thornton, compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.