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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.
My inclusion journey within Grant Thornton started a few years ago when the firm started investing more heavily in this area, setting up a dedicated team and a network of Inclusion Allies to promote inclusion and diversity throughout the firm. As a result of the firm’s efforts, I noticed a genuine culture shift and it was clear that leadership backed up their words with tangible actions. Ultimately, this made me feel comfortable to come out and be honest with colleagues about my own sexuality as a Queer woman a few years ago. The firm’s acceptance and support was so positive, it gave me the confidence to come out to my friends and family following this.
Since then, I've taken a much more active role in inclusion across the firm. When we launched our Inclusion Allies programme, I signed up to become one, and we now have over 350 people actively integrating inclusion into our everyday thinking. Some have lived experiences of issues related to inclusion and diversity, while others are committed to supporting these communities. I also set up the LGBTQIA+ book club for members of the community and allies, so anyone can come to our bi-monthly meetings to talk about books covering a wide range of LGBTQIA+ identities. It’s been really well-received and I think has helped educate people even more on the different strands and issues faced by this diverse community.
Encouraging us to excel
The firm really encourages us all to succeed and supports us to develop our own interests. When the LGBTQIA+ secondment came up it felt like a great opportunity for me and I was fully supported by my manager to do it.
The secondments are 50% of your time, and balancing it with your main role takes commitment, but it’s absolutely doable and the firm helps you find a way that works for you. I split my week in two, working until Wednesday lunchtime on tax, and from Wednesday afternoon onwards on secondment. This gives me time to properly focus and dedicate the time needed to both roles. I also clearly communicate through my diary and my email signature when I'm working on each area, so it’s clear to everyone.
Thinking beyond the secondment
When I think about my secondment so far, my biggest achievement has been compiling this year’s Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, [SS1] but that achievement belongs to everyone in the firm who supported it; putting together events such as our Pride ‘Bake-Off’, updating our policies to be explicitly LGBTQIA+ inclusive (not just compliant) and sharing stories internally and externally. I’m confident this will lead to maintaining the firm's recognition by Stonewall[SS2] in the 2023 Index.
In my remaining time on secondment I would love to bring more focus to intersectionality and do more to generate awareness and make a positive impact on colleagues, crossing all communities. I really appreciate how we're encouraged to bring our own perspectives into the role.
The secondment has really helped me to see my strengths, and my weaknesses, and look at how I can use my strengths more in my corporate tax work, or how I can tweak things. Project management has never been my forte, but the secondment has helped me improve it.
I think the work I've done on secondment has helped me make things better for my LGBTQIA+ colleagues and make our culture across the firm even more inclusive, but it's also been an invaluable experience for me.