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Future Accountants: Kerry’s journey into audit through apprenticeship
Choosing to take the alternative route into accountancy, Kerry started her career through an apprenticeship rather than university. Here, she shares how she’s building a rewarding career in audit – and why being curious, authentic, and supported makes all the difference.
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Future Accountants: Dan’s journey from English literature to Indirect Tax
From literature to ledgers, Dan Barber’s journey into Indirect Tax proves that the path to becoming a future accountant doesn’t have to be traditional. Now two years into his graduate programme, Dan shares how curiosity, support, and a love of problem-solving helped him thrive in a new field.
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Future Accountants: Julia’s journey from economics graduate to Tax Associate
Supported by a culture of encouragement and hands-on learning, Julia’s journey from economics student to Tax Associate began with a four-week internship that shaped her career path. In her own words, she shares how discovering her strengths, gaining real responsibility, and growing through feedback have helped her thrive in Financial Services Tax.
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Starting at the firm: How Emily balances audit, exams, and international hockey
Emily Dark, one of our Audit Associates, reflects on her first two years at Grant Thornton — from studying for her ICAS exams to representing Scotland in international hockey. She shares how the firm’s culture empowered her to thrive both professionally and personally, offering insights to help future trainees feel confident as they begin their careers and explore the opportunities ahead.
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Future Accountants: Yad’s journey from BTEC to Audit Associate
Yad’s path into audit began with a BTEC in Business and a job as a line chef, experiences that sparked his interest in teamwork, problem-solving, and learning by doing. Now an apprentice at Grant Thornton, he reflects on how feedback, support, and a collaborative culture have helped him grow into a professional member of the audit team.
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Future Accountants: Maria’s path from audit intern to Advisory Associate
Maria’s journey has been shaped by curiosity and continuous growth. In her own words, she shares how moving from Dubai to London opened the door to a career in accountancy, how her internship helped her find her fit in advisory, and why feedback, mentorship, and real responsibility have helped her thrive.
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Kevin's story
Everyone at Grant Thornton benefits from private medical insurance, and Kevin experienced its value first-hand. Here he talks about when his life changed dramatically in 2022, and how the support of those around him have allowed him to continue excelling in a role he loves.
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Future Accountants: Alex’s pivot from biomedical science graduate to audit trainee
Driven by curiosity and an appetite for variety, Alex’s journey from biomedical science graduate to audit trainee has been shaped by hands-on experience, a supportive culture, and a commitment to continuous learning. In her own words, she shares how embracing new challenges, building confidence through feedback, and living the firm’s values have helped her grow.
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Returning with purpose: Mike’s path back to the firm
Mike talks to us about rejoining Grant Thornton, his drivers for returning to the firm, and setting the right boundaries to achieve the right work-life balance.
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Empowered to progress: Oliver’s data-driven trainee experience
With a degree in modern languages, Oliver took an alternative route into professional services. Now working in transaction services, he shares how the firm has empowered him to grow, explore new areas of interest, and make a meaningful impact – even as a trainee.
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Back with balance: How Hadia found her rhythm after maternity leave
Returning to work after maternity leave can be daunting – but for Hadia, Accounting Advisory Manager in CFO Solutions, it became a story of support, development, and reconnection. She shares how the firm’s culture and policies have helped her find her rhythm and continue growing after entering the world of motherhood.
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Meaningful work and real connection: Lola’s first eight months in Real Estate Tax
Lola joined Grant Thornton as a member of the Real Estate Tax team. Originally from Nigeria, she brings a global perspective, a passion for meaningful work, and a deep appreciation for community – both inside and outside the firm. In just eight months, she’s already made an impact, not only through her work but also by helping others find their place at the firm. Here’s her story.
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Portraits of Power
Portraits of Power
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Top 10 career tips
Everyone benefits from a little advice, especially when they’re starting out. So, we've put together our top 10 tips to help you ace your applications and kick start your career in the best possible way.
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Ignite work experience
Are you ready to take the first step towards an exciting career in Accountancy? Our Grant Thornton Ignite Work Experience Programme is designed to give you a real taste of life at our firm.
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Interns and placements
Summer internships and 12-month placement programmes give you a fantastic opportunity to find out more about careers in professional services, and they can set you on a fast track through to an offer for your graduate programme.
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Graduate programmes
Our three-year graduate programme will take you from graduate to professionally qualified, opening up a world of opportunity.
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Apprenticeships
For anyone with A-Level (or equivalent) qualifications, an apprenticeship helps fast track you to qualification whilst you earn, and if you join straight after A-Levels, you can qualify ahead of your peers who go to university.
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:
NEW GROUND WON’T BREAK ITSELF.
Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities to do what is right and achieve their goals.
The Data, AI & Analytics Internal Audit Lead is a pivotal role within DRD (Data, RegTech and Digital) practice within FS BRS (Financial Business Risk Services). Our team provides audit, assurance and advisory services to Grant Thornton clients in the UK and internationally. We help clients across a range of sectors to meet their data obligations and drive efficiencies using data analytics by providing practical, proportionate, business-relevant advice, assurance and audit services.
This role is responsible for providing specialized services in data management, AI Assurance and data analytics audits, and act as an SME on a wide range of client engagements including designing, assuring, and auditing compliance, AI and data standards across the organisations. You will also support the automation of internal audit processes, providing expert approaches, and driving efficiencies within the data audit function through use of AI and analytics.
In addition, the role will be responsible for supporting Internal Audit colleagues in business development activities to help the continued growth of our business in this area.
The role demands a proactive, self-motivated individual with strong communication skills and the ability to forge and maintain strong relationships. The successful candidate will be instrumental in growing the function and significantly contributing to business revenue and sales.
We’re happy to talk flexible working and consider reduced hours and job shares, we’ll support you to balance your work and life.
A look into the role
As a Data, AI & Analytics Internal Audit Lead within our Data, RegTech and Digital practice, you will:
Plan, manage and deliver data management, AI and data analytics audits, and other assurance services for clients across a range of sectors
Provide advisory services to clients including designing and implementing data and AI governance frameworks. Provide technical and practical advice and solutions tailored to individual client needs depending on the scale and nature of their business
Assist in defining, assuring and implementing data and AI governance frameworks, including policies, standards, quality, lineage and metadata management.
Support the development and expansion of the data and internal audit practice. Support the creation of new services and propositions, ensuring the practice remains aligned with client and colleagues demand, industry standards, legal developments and technological developments
Drive sales and business development activities primarily within the financial services industry. Build and maintain strong client relationships, understand client needs, and develop tailored solutions that address those needs.
Knowing you’re right for us
Joining us as a Data, AI & Analytics Internal Audit Lead, the minimum criteria you’ll need is proven experience in data management, AI and data analytics capacity in internal audit within a consultancy or financial services industry environment. A good understanding and demonstrable experience of data management, data governance components, AI Assurance including data quality, data lineage, data regulatory reports, AI Models, Meta Data etc. and experience of driving sales and business development activities within the Financial Services industry. It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box, we’ll help you develop along the way.
A relevant data or AI qualification e.g. CDMC, DAMA, DCAM, ISACA
Experience with data and AI platforms and products e.g. Snowflake, Databricks, Microsoft Purview, Collibra, Informatica or AWS
Experience of implementing and refining data and AI analytics tools to automate internal audit processes, enhancing efficiency and accuracy.
Hands-on experience with data and AI analytics tools such as Alteryx, Tableau, Power BI, data bricks, snowflake and SQL among others, to deliver practical and impactful analytics assurances and solutions
Knowing we’re right for you
Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.
Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.
Beyond the job
Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.
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.
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. It’s how it should be.
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