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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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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 left my previous role in executive search in December 2019 and had only intended to take a short break but by March 2020 Covid-19 had arrived and with a young son who was starting school that year it made sense for me to focus on supporting him through starting reception and the various stints of homeschooling. So, whilst an unplanned break, it was a very well timed one.
Deciding the time was right
Towards the end of 2022, with my youngest child now over a year old, I felt the time was right to return to work. My previous company had been very small, with just two of us in the London office, so I wanted to work for a much larger corporation this time as I wanted somewhere with the structure and support to grow and develop a career. A friend who worked in the tax team at Grant Thornton suggested I look at the roles within the firm and was really positive about the culture and what it’s like to work here. The firm were running a Returner Programme at the time, specifically for people like me who had been out of the workplace for a number of years, and it was the perfect opportunity.
Returning to work
It was quite a change returning to the workplace after three years, but overall, I found the transition quite smooth. As I joined the firm as part of a structured returners programme, alongside three others, we were supported through a third-party organisation and had various check-ins with them through the year focusing on helping to build our confidence and relationships, setting goals and just generally the adjustment to returning to work.
As I was changing careers as well as returning to work, there was quite a lot to learn about the processes and systems, but I could call on knowledge from when I used to work in a bank to help things make sense a bit more. And I was supported by my team throughout and given the time to pick things up and really learn the technical elements of the role.
The culture here is a big reason why the transition was so smooth, everyone is supportive and work life balance is really important, various members of my teamwork condensed or part-time hours. As well as being able to work from home some days, I’m also able to be flexible in terms of my hours, which means I can do little things like pick my children up from school or take the dog for a walk. That said, I do enjoy being in the office and try to go in a couple of times a week to work alongside colleagues.
Whilst it’s only been a year, I’ve been built some good relationships within the firm, outside of my team, and have been given the opportunity to join different working groups. I’ve become the team champion for one of the programmes we use – which is a great way building experience and meeting other people across the firm – and it’s great to be able to add value through my knowledge of the systems.
My advice to others
If someone is reading this and thinking about returning to work after a break, my advice would be to give it a go, but to be gentle to yourself when you return. Don’t expect to know everything straight away, it will take time even if you have worked in the sector before, and no one will expect you to know everything either. It will take some time to settle into new routines, but you will find your way and it’s worth it. And Grant Thornton is the perfect place to return to, everyone is really supportive, and happy to help. It’s a great place to work.