School leaver
Milton Keynes
Secondment to New York

I started working at Grant Thornton after spending six months at university and deciding it wasn’t for me. I chose Grant Thornton as it had a great reputation and opportunities for school leavers. As part of my ACCA qualification I was able to get a degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University, so being a school leaver didn't limit what I achieved academically. I’ve been here five years and I am now a manager within the audit department. My clients tend to be large international organisations and my main responsibilities are to manage the audit team, build relationships with clients and to provide technical support where needed to ensure the audits run efficiently and effectively. I was able to go on secondment to the Grant Thornton office in Sydney to work as an Audit Senior for four months, which was a fantastic experience, and I am now currently on a six-month secondment to the New York office. Work life balance at Grant Thornton is generally good. My highlight so far has been a Grant Thornton sponsored charity bike ride in France, where we rode in teams of four and covered 200 miles over three days from Lille to Pey-de-dome in the southern region of France. As far as work goes, you do need to work longer hours during busy season, from February to March, and it can be stressful due to tight deadlines. However this is generally rewarded by a quieter summer season. Studying for your qualification also requires dedication, as you have to be at work all day and then study in the evenings, but it’s worth the effort.

Q: What's the best bit of advice you've received?
A: Treat others how you would want to be treated.

Q: What’s the best bit of advice you’ve received while working at Grant Thornton?
A: Get your exams out the way as soon as possible.

Q: What is the best bit of advice you would give someone looking to join Grant Thornton?
A: It is a great company to work for!