Born in Glasgow’s West End, Grant joined Melville College when his parents moved to Edinburgh. Following his school days he trained as a Chartered Accountant (CA) with a local firm, Robertson and Maxtone Graham, which became part of Thomson McLintock then KPMG. He progressed through the firm becoming an audit partner with a wide range of clients from listed companies to family businesses, later specialising in the audit of public sector bodies. This led to him also becoming a Member of the Institute of Public Finance Accountants (CIPFA) in 1989. Four years later he chaired the Scottish Branch, the first person from a professional firm to do so.
Grant retired from KPMG in 2011 and was asked to spend two years in Toronto with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) helping to develop international standards. A most enjoyable period with world-wide travel meeting many interesting people.
Grant is married to Inez, who attended George Watsons Ladies College. Her brother, father and uncle all attended GWC. Her maternal grandmother attended Mary Erskine School. So it was not surprising they decided to send their three children to a Merchant Company School.
On returning from Canada, Grant decided to use some of his experience to help organisations supporting those with health problems. He became a trustee of the Family Fund, a UK charity which supports over 150,000 families each year with seriously ill or handicapped children. He is a Governor of St Columba’s Hospice and is one of four non-voting citizen/ carer representatives on the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board which commissions health and social care in Edinburgh.
In 2008 Grant became a Governor of the Melville College Trust, which provides support for bursaries and equipment to ESMS. He resigned when he moved to Canada, and was then reappointed on his return, serving as Chairman for a period before being appointed an Honorary Member of the Trust.
Other roles include public appointments as a Board Member of the Scottish Police Authority and David MacBrayne Limited. He is an independent member of the Audit & Risk Committee of the University of Edinburgh.
He is the current President of the Rotary Club of Edinburgh (until June 2024). Through rotary curling he was a member of the month long Scottish Curling Tour to Eastern Canada in 2017.
Grant joined the Company in November 2000. He was an Assistant on Court from 2002-2005, serving as a Governor on ESMS. In 2009 he was asked to become a Governor at GWC and did so until going to Canada. On his return he was asked to re-join GWC Governing Council and to Chair its’ Finance Committee. Grant became a Member of the Education Board in 2019 and currently chairs both its Audit & Risk Committee and the Company wide one. He holds a Burgess Ticket.