Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton International is an umbrella organisation of independently owned and managed accounting and consulting firms, employing 29,000+ across more than 100 countries. The UK branch of Grant Thornton, generates the second highest profits after its US counterpart and is the fifth largest accounting firm in the UK.
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Cons
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Employee Reviews
Life on the Job
Satisfaction with Work
- "The amount of effort, and thus money, that has been put into our training has been phenomenal and has made me feel well prepared both for exams and the job itself." -- Audit, Entry level, Bristol
"Difficult but rewarding." -- Audit, Kettering
"Excellent induction. Other members of staff are always willing to help and answer any questions I have – very friendly atmosphere in the office." -- Tax, Entry level, Kettering
"Grant Thornton is a very approachable company. The staff are friendly and helpful at all times. The atmosphere is relaxed, enabling better working. They offer all the opportunities of the Big 4, and more." -- Tax, Entry level, Milton Keynes
Quality of Work
- "Early responsibility is encouraged from the outset. Interaction with clients is immediate and ensures speedy development." -- Audit, Entry level, Cardiff
"From the word go I was out meeting clients, working in smaller teams of 2-3 which allows a much greater scope of work, and has exposed me to a lot more opportunities that just wouldn’t be available at this stage of my career elsewhere." -- Audit, Entry level, Cardiff
"I have been given a lot of responsibility early on. The work can be challenging but the rest of the team are very supportive." -- Tax, Entry level, London
Culture
- "Flatter hierarchy with very welcoming, friendly and helpful staff. They go above and beyond job descriptions to put myself and the other trainees at ease." -- Audit, Entry level, Bristol
"It’s focussed on quality by not making mistakes, and with an emphasis on really knowing the client. The friendly support is genuine and fun!" -- Audit, Entry level, Bristol
"All members of staff make themselves as available as possible, including partners – you never feel undervalued as a less experienced member of staff. There are lots of social and voluntary activities to get involved in outside of work." -- Tax, Entry level, Kettering
"Everyone is very friendly and approachable – including managers and partners. The culture is a people culture where pleasing employees and clients is the priority." -- Audit, Kettering
"Colleagues are very supportive of each other, especially with respect to studying undertaken alongside work. Employees do socialise outside of work; go for drinks after work, organise birthday events, attend weddings and christenings etc." -- Tax, Entry level, London
"So far I have found everyone to be very supportive. People work well together. I often see partners walking around chatting to various employees. The firm has a sociable feel and employees regularly socialise outside work." -- Tax, Entry level, London
Hours, Pay & Perks
Hours
- "I work the hours that I am supposed to daily, and only very occasionally am I expected/needed to work late. Also, my firm is very understanding with respect to annual leave and has a flexible benefit allowing the purchasing of extra holidays." -- Tax, Entry level, London
"The official hours are 37.5 hours per week. I probably spend around 40 per week. Working up to the January deadline, I understand there will be a lot more overtime. I don't think anyone has to work at weekends though." -- Tax, Entry level, London
"37.5 hours work. Company is very flexible to the needs of the staff. Currently do not work on weekends and would only stay late for meetings etc." -- Tax, Entry level, Milton Keynes
"Hours in the office are minimal due to the nature of the job. As of yet no weekend hours have been worked, although study is likely to demand work/revision on the weekends soon." -- Audit, Entry level, Cardiff
"In the 10 weeks I’ve been at the company I’ve been at the office 3 days, one of which was an induction. The rest of my time has either been spent at a client or at various training centres. Weekly hours are 37.5, if you work over this you’re given it back via holiday time. It is very easy to sell or buy holiday and the company is fairly flexible." -- Audit, Entry level, Cardiff
"On average I work my contracted hours of 37.5hours p/w and have never had to work at the weekend. Holiday can be purchased and sold if needed and ample study leave is given for training, revision and exams." -- Tax, Entry level, Kettering
Pay
- "£20,000" -- Audit, Entry level, Cardiff"£20,000" -- Audit, Entry level, Bristol"£20,000" -- Audit, Entry level, Bristol"£20,000" -- Audit, Entry level, Bristol"£20,000" -- Audit, Entry level, Bristol"£20,500" -- Audit, Entry level, Cardiff"£23,000" -- Tax, Entry level, Milton Keynes"£25,500" -- Tax, Entry level, London"£25,750" -- Tax, Entry level, London"£26,500" -- Tax, Entry level, London
"For London, the pay is not at the
higher end of the scale, however it is sufficient. The pay structure across the
firm is transparent and fair. Pay rises and bonuses reflect the work you put in
and the progress you make. There are numerous other tax efficient benefits
available to staff too." -- Tax, Entry level, London
"No bonuses or other remuneration, though we get overtime back as holiday allowance, and there are loads of benefits to choose from." -- Audit, Entry level, Bristol
"Wages are raised regularly as you go through the training process." -- Audit, Kettering
"Pay slightly lower than Big Four, however overtime is allowed and accounted for by the way of time off in lieu." -- Audit, Entry level, Cardiff
Interviews
Interviews & Assessments
- "Application form, online tests, 1st interview and assessment day. The whole process was very well planned out and didn't leave me pressured at any stage. Communication between each stage was also very prompt which allowed me to work preparation around other commitments." -- Audit, Entry level, Cardiff
"Recruitment process is extremely efficient, they get back to you on the day of your interview, and they don't make you feel intimidated. Grant Thornton could not improve their recruitment process in anyway." -- Audit, Kettering
"Four rounds from online application to assessment day." -- Audit, Entry level, Bristol
"I did an internship and so bypassed the formal graduate recruitment process. To get the internship I had a telephone interview and an assessment morning. After my six week internship I had an interview with a senior manager and another with a partner before being offered a graduate job after completing my degree." -- Tax, Entry level, London
"I really enjoyed the interview and selection process as it felt like the managers and partners were really interested in me. The generic 'group-based exercise followed by interview, followed by written exercise, etc.' assessment structure was dealt with in a much more natural, relaxed way, which made me very keen to come and work for the firm." -- Audit, Entry level, Bristol
"Online application, first interview with HR and second interview includes a scenario and a partner interview. Recruiting process was quick and the HR team were always very helpful." -- Tax, Entry level, Milton Keynes
"4 interviews, 2 with partners, 2 with managers." -- Audit, Entry level, Cardiff
The Inside Buzz View
Graduate Careers at Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton takes on graduates in a number of departments,
including audit, tax, recovery and reorganisation, actuarial and
business risk services. It then offers successful applicants the chance
to specialise within these areas.
Applications are made through
an online form; however, the requirements are tough. To secure a place
on the graduate programme, you'll need at least a 2:1 in a relevant discipline, 300 UCAS points and a B or above in GCSE Maths and English.
If your application is
successful then you’ll have to sit two online 20 minute aptitude tests – one
verbal reasoning, one numerical. However, the website does offer applicants help
and advice on preparing for both of these. If successful, you will be invited to a competency interview (or phone interview) with
a member of the HR team. The questions asked will explore your academic
and vocational decisions, including what attracts you to a career at Grant
Thornton in particular and why you want to join the service line to which
you applied.
>> Practice Numerical and Verbal Tests used by employers
>> Practice In-tray / e-tray simulation tests
>> Improve your performance at Assessment Centres and Group Exercises
Tick the interviewers boxes, and you’ll be invited back for an assessment. The assessment day at Grant Thornton is generally considered to be more laid back and relaxed than at other firms. It will last approximately three hours and consists of a 30 minute partner case study and, in some cases, a 45 minute interview with a manager. This will be followed by a lunch with the other candidates, before concluding with a company presentation from the HR team. You'll be please to hear that Grant Thornton don't mess around – candidates are normally notified of the outcome of the final interview within 5 working days.
Grant Thornton Graduate Recruitment Info
How to apply: www.grant-thornton.co.uk/careers/graduate_opportunities.aspx
Application Deadline: 29 September 2011
Grant Thornton Profile & Stats
As a leading financial and business adviser, Grant Thornton UK LLP has offices in 30 locations across the UK, more than 25,000 individual and 15,000 corporate and institutional clients, and now regularly posts revenues in excess of the $1 billion barrier.
Grant Thornton International is an umbrella organisation that encompasses 100 independently owned and managed accounting and consulting firms worldwide, including Grant Thornton UK. This accounting network employs more than 2,400 partners in over 100 countries and over 29,000 people globally. The UK branch, Grant Thornton UK, generates the second highest profits after its US counterpart and it is the fifth largest accounting firm in the UK – a position it seems content to maintain, rather than attempt to break into the Big Four.
In 1924, 26-year-old Alexander Richardson Grant – then a Chicago based senior-accountant with Ernst & Ernst (now Ernst & Young) – left the relative comfort of an established company to pursue his plan for public accounting. He subsequently founded Alexander Grant & Co – a firm committed to providing services to mid-sized companies; this stance is still held by the firm today.
The 1950s and early 1960s were times of explosive growth and centralisation for the firm. During the mid-1960s the firm’s leadership decided it was the ideal time to expand internationally. In 1969, Alexander Grant & Co joined with firms from Australia, Canada, and the UK to establish the organisation of Alexander Grant Tansley Witt.
By 1980, Alexander Grant & Co had joined with 49 other accounting firms – most notably Thornton Baker in the UK, a firm with similar qualities, clients and values. These alliances culminated in the founding of Grant Thornton International, in 1986, when US firm Alexander Grant merged with UK firm Thornton Baker. Then in 2007, Grant Thornton UK merged with Robson Rhodes – the biggest merger in the UK since PricewaterhouseCoopers’ inception in 1998 – to become the fifth largest accounting firm in the UK.
The UK’s outpost has three main departments: audit, tax and advisory. It does however offer additional services, including corporate finance, business risk services, forensic investigation services, financial advisory, recovery and reorganisation, renewable energy and environment services, fraud insolvency and technology services. The firm provides these services to more than 40,000 individuals, privately-held businesses and public interest entities. And the vast majority of AIM-listed companies automatically look to Grant Thornton for their services – a situation reflected by a client list 40% greater than its closest rival.
Grant Thornton’s audit services are particularly commendable. The independent Takeover Panel that supervises and regulates takeovers and mergers recently named Grant Thornton UK as their new external auditor – a role previously bestowed to PricewaterhouseCoopers. This makes Grant Thornton the external auditor for three important regulatory bodies, as it also audits the Financial Services Authority and Institute of Chartered Accountants, in England and Wales.
Additionally, Grant Thornton produces an annual review of corporate governance in the FTSE 350, which has become a standard reference document on the market.
