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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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Future Accountant: Nirunthan, Advisory Associate
Nirunthan (Niru) joined the firm as a placement student during his university years. After graduating, he returned to the firm as an advisory associate in the Transactions Advisory Services team – a move that reflects his passion for applying accounting skills in a commercial, project-driven environment. Niru shares his experience as a placement student, including the challenges he overcame and the culture that shaped his development.
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“You are not alone”: Nana Yaw’s mission to normalise conversations about men’s mental health
In a culture where men are often expected to stay silent about their struggles, Nana Yaw is using his voice to challenge stigma, share his experiences, and encourage others to do the same. He’s on a mission to help normalise conversations around wellbeing – especially for men from ethnic minority backgrounds. Here’s his 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.
I’ll start with my passion for rugby, which is much more than playing on a pitch...For me, it’s always been my way of meeting new people and there’s a strong sense of community and camaraderie. You can be beating someone on the pitch one minute and enjoying a pint with them in the clubhouse the next! Whatever day I’ve had, for that one hour a week when I’m on the pitch, I am just focused on the game and enjoying the moment, very mindful!
Throughout my life I have always played rugby, but in my 30s I developed ankylosing spondylitis - a form of rheumatoid arthritis - and had to stop playing rugby almost overnight. Whilst the condition is now largely under control, I have since had two new hips and a new right knee, so it’s had a huge impact on my life.
Looking back, I wasn’t in a great place with my mental health. I was working long hours to establish my career, trying to build a career as a lawyer and reward consultant at the time my body was breaking down, physically and mentally.
That’s why, in 2017, I decided to set up a touch rugby team called ‘Yogits’, as I really missed both the active nature of rugby and camaraderie of team sport. My body wasn’t what it used to be, so touch rugby was the obvious substitute and a way to offer others like me an opportunity to reconnect weekly, gaining from the physical and mental benefits of sport.
I think men are generally more reserved with their feelings and having something active to do gives an outlet and reason to talk to others. So, whilst it’s a great impact on physical wellbeing, one of the most important impacts Yogits has had is on peoples’ mental health, by providing an active forum of connection.
The Yogits knew that connectivity was especially important during lockdowns. During Covid lockdowns, we did a lot virtually to maintain engagement and keep building the community. We raised money to fund mental health first aider training, to go into rugby clubs and provide that support to people. We set a Six Nations Challenge, and between us covered the equivalent distance between Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome, through any form of movement, from mowing the lawn to cycling or running. We raised over £5,000 for mental health charity Mind Ystradgynlais (part of the Mind Mental health charity network)), and this then led to feature on Countryfile.
After getting involved with Mind, I joined their Board and I’ve now taken on the role of Chair of Trustees, which I do in my spare time. I also use my self-organised volunteering hours that the firm gives us all. Our How we work framework really helps with this; where I can, I will work a condensed fortnight and take a day to focus on my trustee work. That’s one of the great things about the firm - there’s an understanding that people have lives outside of work.
I want to be the best I can be at work, but I also want to be the best father and husband and give the time for charity and to my Yogits. Having the freedom to focus on the areas outside of work that give me energy means I can be the best me at work too.
Skills I’ve developed through my career have helped me in both setting up the touch rugby club and in my charity work, especially in communication. It’s great to use the skills I’ve developed through my career to give back to the local community and those in need.
Pursuing my personal interests helps in my ‘day job’ too - I’m a better and happier person at work for it. It’s helped my skills as a people manager, and I now have more empathy and understanding of others’ situations. Everyone is on their own journey and it’s important to take the time to understand that. My activities outside of work also help me with clients; it’s a real conversation starter and opens doors to some great opportunities.
‘Yogits’ is one of the things I am most proud of in my life. When you have people’s partners thanking you and saying that they are a much happier person because of it, you realise the impact you’ve made.
What started as eight of us getting together weekly has evolved to 80 people on our regulars list. It’s not just our club either – taking inspiration from the Yogit idea, there are now over 25 clubs with 800- 1,000 players in South Wales who have an avenue to continue playing a sport they love (or start it anew), which they didn’t have previously – and that really is amazing.