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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.
A passion for helping young people
I work in the Centralised Audit Services Team (CAST) within Digital Audit and have been with Grant Thornton since 2015. I started as an administrator in the Bank Confirmations team and progressed through various roles, spending most of my time as a team leader, before becoming a Business Improvement Analyst in 2024.
Volunteering is something that really matters to me – especially when it involves helping young people. I’m familiar with the challenges young people can face, as I was raised in a single-parent family where my mum was unable to work due to ill health. This left me a step behind in understanding payslips and preparing for job interviews; experiences I had to navigate on my own since no one in my immediate circle had been through that process.
I was so pleased when I learned about the firm’s volunteering programme to support young people in similar situations. Launched in 2024, the firm’s Head Start volunteering programme helps Year 10 or Secondary 4 school students build confidence and learn important skills for bridging education and work. The programme, delivered by our volunteers, takes place over four sessions during a one-day workshop, focused on broadening horizons, completing job applications, establishing a personal brand in the workplace, and navigating personal finances.
Becoming a Head Start relationship manager
My people manager Colin McMahon, who is in the Sustainability Leadership Group, was keen to provide volunteering opportunities to schools in Northern Ireland. While I was setting my goals for the year ahead, I was tasked with implementing our Head Start programme in the region as a relationship manager, focusing on building a strong relationship with chosen schools.
Aligning with the firm’s goal to improve social mobility, I identified schools that would benefit most from our sessions. I researched free school meal statistics in Northern Ireland to compile a list of schools with a high percentage of students eligible for free meals, ensuring they aligned with the Head Start criteria. When I attended an open evening at one of these schools, I connected with the Head of Business, which led to our very first Head Start workshop.
Volunteering is something that really matters to me – especially when it involves helping young people.
The impact of the Head Start programme
We had so much great engagement from students during the workshop. I was struck by the depth of their questions, especially during the ‘personal finances and budgeting’ session, as many students already had part-time jobs but were confused about holiday pay, tax codes, and contract types. There was also a keen interest in how they could use AI for CV writing and interview preparation, to which I encouraged the students to find a balance between the efficiency of using these tools and maintaining their personal authenticity.
We’re scheduled to deliver the programme in two more schools this year. I’m excited to have even more thought-provoking conversations with students across the region and help more young people gain the skills they need to succeed in their future careers.
Volunteering takeaways: feeling inspired and grateful
On the day of the workshop, I felt nervous about delivering the content. But what surprised me most was how quickly the nerves faded when I got started – and that I enjoyed the experience! Knowing that I needed to hold the students’ attention and deliver the content clearly and concisely helped me develop my public speaking skills, which was a great unexpected benefit.
Participating in a volunteering programme for the first time can be challenging, as it means stepping outside of your comfort zone – but it’s a truly unmissable experience. To help my colleagues feel more confident about volunteering, I’m offering my time for any support or coaching so they feel ready to take the next step. There are numerous opportunities to contribute, not just through Head Start but in various other initiatives, both online and in-person – so there’s something to suit everyone. Taking part in a programme that empowers young people to reach their full potential is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done, and I would love to support more team members to do the same!