Box office bean counter heads for the bright lights of Grant Thornton

Accountants, stereotypically known for their penchant for grey suits and being in bed by 10pm, aren’t usually...well...box office.

This accountant is, however. I hear Grant Thornton, the firm that has handled such compelling dramas as the Eircom examinership and the administration of the Quinn Group, has plucked John Gleeson from rival firm Crowe Horwath to head up a new media and film finance practice.

It’s a nice catch for Grant Thornton, run by managing partner Paul McCann. Gleeson is the top dog, the Steven Spielberg of his trade in Ireland.

About €170 million was raised in Ireland last year via the section 481 film finance tax shelter. Gleeson’s team at Crowe Horwath raised about €90 million of that.

Over the last decade he has raised cash for about 175 productions in this country, including BBC's Ripper Street, which was filmed in Dublin's Clancy Barracks.

His other credits include Vikings, the pillaging and plundering Canadian series, and The Guard, which starred his partial namesake Brendan Gleeson.

He is also bringing some of his supporting cast from his old firm, including Róisín Henehan, who will be GT’s new director of media.

GT’s media practice will apparently go beyond drumming up tax investors, and also provide wider corporate finance and advisory services to the media and entertainment industry.

I bet Gleeson’s going away party was a riot – once all the accountants had shuffled off home to bed.