Audit School Leaver Programme (Autumn 2026) - Gatwick

Alternatively, Grant Thornton

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance. A true alternative.

With over 5,000 people in the UK, and a presence in 150 global markets, we're on an ambitious journey, from great to exceptional, and we need the best people to help us achieve our potential. And with that comes the opportunity to help redefine what our industry looks like, and what you want from your career.

Job Description:

Great minds. Nothing alike.

Get to know us, our clients and start learning more about yourself. As an auditor, you’ll be connecting with the issues our clients are facing. The constantly evolving landscape calls for an approach that puts what is right first and you will need to push ideas harder and ask difficult questions, giving our clients the assurance they need.

Our Audit and Assurance practice is comprised of over 10 different teams and over 50 partners. We audit over 8,000 entities annually, ranging from FTSE and AIM listed groups to small and medium sized enterprises. There’ll definitely be challenges along the way, but you’ll be supported and able to meet each one with a solution. That’s how you excel here.

We take pride in quality across the firm and have made a significant investment in this area – it is at the heart of everything we do. We have once again received top marks for our audit quality from the Financial Reporting Council in its Audit Quality Review.

A look into your future

Our five-year apprenticeship programme is designed to take you on a journey to professional qualification. Anyone without a degree can join this programme. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll experience during your first five years:

• Hands on experience in the different aspects of audit, with a variety of clients
• Responsibility from early in your career, taking ownership for interesting and challenging client work
• You’ll develop a strong internal and external network to learn from
• Working closely with colleagues to provide robust challenge and market leading insights to help clients meet their regulatory needs and business objectives
• You’ll get experience in everything from examining financial records, carrying out audit tests, to attending stock-takes and completing audit files
• Subject to restrictions, you’ll be required to spend time travelling to a variety of client offices
• On the job learning, alongside a structured training programme
• Time to study and revise for your exams, supported by us all the way to ACA professional qualification.

In your first two years you will work towards completing the CFAB (Certificate in Finance Accounting and Business), moving on to becoming ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant) qualified over the next three years.

Knowing that you’re right for us

We’ve set ambitious growth targets for the firm, and we need the right people to help us achieve these. We’re looking for people who will bring ambition and drive to their role. In changing markets, we need to be able to work at pace and be adaptable to change and to be curious, asking questions of ourselves, each other and our clients to ensure we are delivering the services and quality we expect.

We’ve got a flexible approach to academic entry requirements, and we’ll consider these alongside your strengths and motivations. We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves.

How we work 

We have a trust-based way of working at Grant Thornton, driven by responsible people who have the best interests of our firm and our clients at heart. Our teams work between our offices, client sites, at their homes with trainees also attending college as required. As a trainee, in-person working is important and is a great way to help you learn even more about the firm and the work we do, as well building relationships and connections with your peers. Once you know the team you will be joining, we will advise of their working patterns, and of course where required there is flex within this.
 
Study 

You’ll need to be focused, committed, and organised as a trainee, to balance your study and work requirements. You will be provided with study leave to help you complete your professional qualification but you will also find you need to study in your spare time outside of your working hours. Completing a professional qualification is a substantial commitment and its worth taking this into consideration before applying.  

Knowing we’re right for you

The culture at Grant Thornton is what sets us apart, we’re known for our inclusive culture and creating environments where all our people can flourish. The things that set you apart, we value them, and this helps us all to perform at our best.

Our values are the unwavering principles that shape our daily behaviours and decisions, alongside our drive to do the right thing. We’re looking for people who align with our values and are purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind. You can learn more about our values in practice here.

It’s not just about our culture and values, in additional to a competitive salary and reward package, us you’ll also get:
- Tailored development programmes and access to coaching
- Flexible bank holidays – allowing you to celebrate the days that are important to you
- Benefits including pension, life assurance and private medical, additional holiday purchasing and health benefits
- Any benefits giving you access to shopping discounts, gym memberships, financial advice

And more. Visit our benefits section to read more.

Beyond the job

Life is more than work. Our framework for how we work outlines our approach to agile working, and together with your people manager and team, you’ll decide the best way of working, for your clients, your team and for you. Everyone here enjoys a competitive salary, and you’ll receive our core benefits including, life assurance, income protection and private medical cover plus access to a range of voluntary benefits to choose from focused on health, family and wellbeing.

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

You deserve the best start to your career. Come to where you’ll learn more, where you won’t limit yourself, and where you’ll discover exactly what you’re capable of. Choose Grant Thornton. It’s how it should be.

Before applying, we would encourage you to visit our employability hub to get a feel for what it’s like to start your career with us and to get some hints and tips for the next stage in our process.