Why become a Value Creation Associate at Grant Thornton | Stax Transactions?
Grant Thornton | Stax Transactions helps private equity and growth-focused companies identify and execute opportunities to improve business performance. As a Value Creation Associate, you will support high-impact engagements focused on revenue growth, EBITDA expansion, commercial excellence, pricing, go-to-market strategy, performance improvement, operational improvement and integration and separations.
Recognized as a top workplace, Grant Thornton | Stax Transactions has been named to the 2025 Vault Consulting 50 Best Firms, Management Consulted’s Top Ranked Consulting Firms 2025, and Consulting Magazine’s 2025 Best Firms to Work For.
As a member of the Value Creation team, you will assist clients by applying structured problem-solving, research, data analysis, financial modeling, and strategic thinking to a variety of client engagements. Our professionals work with private equity sponsors and portfolio company leaders to help identify growth opportunities, improve commercial and operational performance, quantify financial and synergy impact across the deal lifecycle and support actionable implementation plans.
You will gain exposure to client-facing strategy consulting work while developing core consulting skills in market research, business analysis, financial modeling, presentation development, and project execution. Through hands-on experience and mentorship, you will build the analytical, communication, and critical-thinking skills needed to help solve complex business problems and support measurable client outcomes.
Your day-to-day may include:
- Supporting client engagements focused on revenue growth, pricing optimization, sales effectiveness, commercial strategy, go-to-market strategy, and operational performance improvement.
- Supporting operational due diligence, cost optimization, synergy assessment, and integration and carve-out engagements.
- For integration and separations, supporting day-to-day mechanics of a workstream — building and maintaining Excel schedules, tracking data requests, source-checking analyses, and quality-controlling deliverables before partner review.
- Gathering, organizing, and analyzing financial, operational, customer, market, and sales-related data.
- Supporting primary research efforts, including interview preparation, phone interview synthesis, survey analysis, and web-based research.
- Using data visualization and AI-enabled analysis tools to accelerate research, synthesize large datasets, and sharpen client insights.
- Assisting in the development of financial models and analyses to estimate revenue, EBITDA, and operational impact.
- Supporting the development of client-ready presentations, workpapers, analyses, and deliverables.
- Assisting with the development of actionable recommendations, implementation plans, and performance improvement roadmaps.
- Attending client working sessions and interviews, capturing notes and synthesizing takeaways for the team.
- Learning Grant Thornton | Stax Transactions methodologies, tools, and approaches for value creation and strategy consulting.
- Developing project management, communication, analytical, and leadership skills through client service experiences.
- Receiving hands-on mentoring, career coaching, and professional development opportunities.
You have the following technical skills or qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Data Analytics, Strategy, Marketing, Management, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.0/4.0.
- Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. No visa sponsorship is available for this position.
- Interest in strategy consulting, private equity, value creation, commercial excellence, pricing, growth strategy, financial analysis, M&A and transaction support, and operational improvement.
- Strong structured problem-solving and analytical capabilities.
- Ability to conduct research, synthesize findings, and translate analysis into clear insights.
- Foundational financial modeling and Excel skills, with interest in developing the ability to quantify revenue, EBITDA, and operational impact.
- Strong PowerPoint skills and ability to support the development of client-ready presentations.
- Familiarity with data visualization tools and comfort using AI-enabled tools to accelerate research and analysis.
- Excellent analytical, written and verbal communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively in a fast-paced, team-based environment.
- High initiative, intellectual curiosity, and a collaborative mindset that welcomes different perspectives and continuous learning.
The base salary for this position in the firm’s Chicago, Illinois office is $105,000 per year.
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. About the TeamThe team you’re about to join is ready to help you thrive. Here’s how:
- Benefits for internship positions: Grant Thornton interns are eligible to participate in the firm’s medical, dental and vision insurance programs and the firm’s employee assistance program. Interns also receive a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick leave, and are paid for firm holidays that fall within their internship period.
- Benefits for seasonal employee positions: Grant Thornton seasonal employees are eligible to participate in the firm’s medical, dental and vision insurance programs and the firm’s employee assistance program. Seasonal employees may also be eligible to participate in the firm’s 401(k) savings plan and employee retirement plan in accordance with applicable plan terms and eligibility requirements. Seasonal employees receive a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick leave.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Data Analytics, Strategy, Marketing, Management, or a related field
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0
- Authorized to work in the United States without requiring employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future
- Interest in strategy consulting, private equity, value creation, commercial excellence, pricing, growth strategy, financial analysis, M&A, transaction support, and operational improvement
- Strong structured problem-solving and analytical capabilities
- Ability to conduct research, synthesize findings, and translate analysis into clear insights
- Foundational financial modeling and Microsoft Excel skills
- Strong Microsoft PowerPoint skills and ability to support client-ready presentations
- Familiarity with data visualization tools and AI-enabled tools for research and analysis
- Excellent analytical, written, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills
- Detail-oriented and organized, with ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, team-based environment
- High initiative, intellectual curiosity, collaborative mindset, and openness to continuous learning
What We Do
Forget what you think you know about professional services. We go beyond what’s expected and help others do the same. Grant Thornton is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading independent audit, tax and advisory firms. That means our network has more than 60,000 professionals in more than 135 countries who are ready to help public and private organizations of all sizes take on today’s challenges. But what sets us apart isn’t just what we do – it’s how we do it. Here, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result. We’re collaborators – obsessed with quality and ready for anything – who understand the value of strong relationships. It’s how we challenge the expectations of business and empower our people and clients to do it, too. One thing we won’t do? Grant Thornton LLP will never request money or any form of payment for services via social media. Please report any concerns at 1-800-810-3503. "Grant Thornton” refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. Please see grantthornton.com for further details.
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