It’s time to re-think what you know about careers in accountancy.
Gone are the days when you need to go to university and get the highest grades, and if you think that people in professional services firms just sit at desks wearing suits all day working on spreadsheets – you are about to proven wrong.
At Grant Thornton we do things differently, not just for our clients but also for our people. We look at more than just the grades you receive at A-Level or in your degree, we look at your potential and whether with the right support and environment, alongside your attitude, we think you can shine. We have spoken to trainees, and recently qualified trainees to debunk some misconceptions we know there are about careers in accountancy.
It’s time to re-think what you know about careers in accountancy.
Think you need to go to uni?
Do accountants spend
all day sat at their desks?
Don’t I need to get straight As to
be an accountant?
Interested in finding out more about how to kick start a career in accountancy?
Our programmes at a glance
Placements
Seb de Villiers Kuun
"I didn’t know anything about school leaver programmes or have any work experience in accountancy until a friend recommended Grant Thornton."
Read more about Seb's story
"My advice to anyone deciding on their next steps after school would be to do your research. One route may be pushed as the only option but take the time to find what works best for you."
Read more about Rhianna's story
Rhianna Holliday
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Seb de Villiers Kuun
I thought that if I wanted to be an accountant, I would need to go to university. When I was in sixth form, I didn’t know anything about school leaver programmes or have any work experience in accountancy until a friend recommended Grant Thornton.
Choosing the apprenticeship route meant I could qualify earlier and save money. I will gain my accountancy qualifications in four years, rather than going to university for three years, followed by another three years of training. I also believe I am learning more relevant skills and gaining better work experience in the industry than I would in lectures. I’m also earning a salary whilst I learn, which means I don’t have to incur any debt or take out a student loan while qualifying.
What I enjoy most about my job is the people I work with and the variety of activities. I have been in the firm for nearly a year now and my team have been friendly, welcoming and always willing to offer support. We have an active social calendar outside work, with team events and I play basketball for the firm against other teams around London.
Read more people stories
I thought that going to university was the only way to achieve the career I wanted. Both my sisters and my Mum had gone to university and it’s the route my school encouraged me to take so I worked hard to get the results I needed.
It is only when I started university that I realised it was not right for me. I ended up taking the year off to work and travel. I was still hesitant but knew I wanted to work in accountancy so researched other routes in, which is when I discovered school leaver apprenticeships.
You can achieve the same qualification as going to university, in a shorter amount of time. The school leaver route has helped me gain valuable skills such as communication, problem-solving and teamwork. I have gained confidence and learned firsthand about the industry. Grant Thornton also cover the cost of your training so I am not left with any student debt while earning a salary.
My advice to anyone deciding on their next steps after school would be to do your research. One route may be pushed as the only option but take the time to find what works best for you.
Read more people stories
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Accountancy
busters
busters
myth
myth
Sam is a father of three
Georgina just returned from maternity leave
Charlotte recently got married and likes going to the gym
True or false?
You need to go to university to become an accountant?
True
False
57% of young people think you need to go to university to become an accountant.
False
False
Both Seb and Rhianna joined us on our apprenticeship programme, read their stories below to learn about the routes they took, and why.
London
Tax
Rhianna Holliday
Carlisle
Audit
True or false?
You need straight As to be an accountant.
True
False
62% of young people think you need high grades to get a job in accountancy.
At Grant Thornton we look at more than just your grades, as Okeme and Georgia found out when they joined us. Read their stories below.
False
False
True or false?
Accountants spend all day sitting at a desk.
True
False
53% of young people think accountants sit at desks all day.
From offices, to client sites to working from home, your working life will be varied at Grant Thornton. Hear from Aaron and Natacha about their careers.
False
False
"One of the standout client experiences for me so far was being driven round the test track at a sports car manufacturing site and having a tour of the factory."
Read more about Aarons's story
Aaron Farmer
"I have had the opportunity to work overseas on a project and was trusted to be the only Grant Thornton UK representation on site with the client."
Read more about Natacha's story
Natacha Roberts
Natacha Roberts
London
Advisory
You get real responsibility as a trainee here and no project or week is the same.
I am nearing the end of my training programme and am so pleased I made a career change to join Grant Thornton, the variety in my work and clients is much more than I had expected.
I have had the opportunity to work overseas on a project and was trusted to be the only Grant Thornton UK representation on site with the client. You often hear that you get real responsibility as a trainee but at Grant Thornton that is true and this was testament to this. I’m also very lucky that the location I went to was the Seychelles!
After I graduated from university I worked in criminal defence but I realised this wasn’t where I wanted to spend my career, as I missed numbers too much. I joined the Forensics team in September 2020 and moved into the Insolvency and asset recovery team in 2021 and I haven’t looked back, I love combining my interest in forensics and investigations with my love of numbers.
Read more people stories
Aaron Farmer
Chelmsford
Audit
No two weeks are ever the same and I rarely work from one place for long.
I travel the country to referee National League football and so I’m often setting up to work 100+ miles away from my home office. Grant Thornton is really supportive and allows me to work flexibly around my football commitments. I loved the idea of getting a professional qualification whilst also working full time. I first found out about Grant Thornton’s school leaver apprenticeship from my teacher at college. I now manage the firm’s relationship with my old sixth form and think it’s important we continue to provide advice to students on the opportunities available.
I have two long-term aspirations for the future. The first is to continue to progress at Grant Thornton and see where my career takes me. The second is to referee the World Cup Final.
You won’t regret choosing a career in accountancy. It opens up so many opportunities. One of the standout client experiences for me so far was being driven round the test track at a sports car manufacturing site and having a tour of the factory.
Read more people stories
"Joining as an apprentice also means that not only will I qualify without debt, but I will also qualify earlier than if I went to university."
Read more about Okeme's story
Okeme Nelson-Akajagbo
"I didn’t get straight As in my A levels and knew that more academic learning was not the best way for me to thrive."
Read more about Georgia's story
Georgia Wright
Georgia Wright
Manchester
Audit
I knew that I would not thrive academically at university and wanted to kickstart my career. I didn’t get straight As in my A levels and knew that more academic learning was not the best way for me to thrive. I knew I wanted to focus on a role that involved numbers, so getting straight into my career was the best decision for me.
The school leaver route has built my confidence and given me independence. Getting paid whilst training meant I could afford to move out of my parents’ house and live independently. I also love that my exams directly correlate to a qualification that will open many doors in the future.
The people at Grant Thornton make it really special, I’ve made so many friends here, of all ages. There’s still an opportunity to play hard whilst kickstarting your career. Joining as part of a cohort means you develop a bond with your colleagues who join with you, in the same way that you would at university.
My goal is to find something within the finance space that I love doing, that excites me and gives me the opportunity to travel. The ACA qualification that I am working towards will help me achieve this.
Read more people stories
Okeme Nelson-Akajagbo
Gatwick
Tax
I decided quite late that I wanted to change courses, and they wouldn’t let me as my grades didn’t meet the criteria. I’d originally accepted a place at university, so then begun a foundation year to get me on the Business with Finance degree I wanted to switch to.
It was during this year that I realised that apprenticeships were an option. I’d never considered them before, but the fact that I could start working straight away appealed to me. Joining as an apprentice also means that not only will I qualify without debt, but I will also qualify earlier than if I went to university.
I’m pleased I did the foundation year as it helped me see what other options there are. And that it was achievable with the grades I had. I’m coming up to the end of my first three years at Grant Thornton and am really pleased I chose this route, I’ve learnt so much on the job and have had opportunities I wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t joined the apprentice programme.
My advice to others considering a career in accounting is to just go for it. It’s a really interesting and varied career.
Read more people stories
12-month placements
Open to penultimate undergraduate students
Develop your skills and grow in confidence
Opportunity to be fast tracked to a graduate trainee offer
Apprenticeships
Four or five years of studying and learning before gaining your chartered accountancy qualification
Interact with senior business figures early in your careers
Gain cutting-edge skills and knowledge through real-work experiences in offices and on client sites
Supported towards Level 4 and Level 7 apprenticeships
Read more
Graduate
Open to applications from graduates and final year students
Flexible approach to academic entry requirements
Ownership for interesting and challenging client work
Supported by us to complete a professional accountancy qualification
Read more
We're now open for applications to our 2024 trainee intakes. Visit our trainee website to apply.
Read more
Find out more
Seb de Villiers Kuun
London
Tax
True or false?
You need straight As to be an accountant.
True
False
62% of young people think you need high grades to get a job in accountancy.
At Grant Thornton we look at more than just your grades, as Okeme and Georgia found out when they joined us. Read their stories below.
False
False
"Joining as an apprentice also means that not only will I qualify without debt, but I will also qualify earlier than if I went to university."
Okeme Nelson-Akajagbo
Read more about Okeme's story
"I didn’t get straight As in my A levels and knew that more academic learning was not the best way for me to thrive."
Georgia Wright
Read more about Georgia's story
I knew that I would not thrive academically at university and wanted to kickstart my career. I didn’t get straight As in my A levels and knew that more academic learning was not the best way for me to thrive. I knew I wanted to focus on a role that involved numbers, so getting straight into my career was the best decision for me.
The school leaver route has built my confidence and given me independence. Getting paid whilst training meant I could afford to move out of my parents’ house and live independently. I also love that my exams directly correlate to a qualification that will open many doors in the future.
The people at Grant Thornton make it really special, I’ve made so many friends here, of all ages. There’s still an opportunity to play hard whilst kickstarting your career. Joining as part of a cohort means you develop a bond with your colleagues who join with you, in the same way that you would at university.
My goal is to find something within the finance space that I love doing, that excites me and gives me the opportunity to travel. The ACA qualification that I am working towards will help me achieve this.
Read more people stories
Georgia Wright
Manchester
Audit
I decided quite late that I wanted to change courses, and they wouldn’t let me as my grades didn’t meet the criteria. I’d originally accepted a place at university, so then begun a foundation year to get me on the Business with Finance degree I wanted to switch to.
It was during this year that I realised that apprenticeships were an option. I’d never considered them before, but the fact that I could start working straight away appealed to me. Joining as an apprentice also means that not only will I qualify without debt, but I will also qualify earlier than if I went to university.
I’m pleased I did the foundation year as it helped me see what other options there are. And that it was achievable with the grades I had. I’m coming up to the end of my first three years at Grant Thornton and am really pleased I chose this route, I’ve learnt so much on the job and have had opportunities I wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t joined the apprentice programme.
My advice to others considering a career in accounting is to just go for it. It’s a really interesting and varied career.
Read more people stories
Okeme Nelson-Akajagbo
Gatwick
Tax
True or false?
Accountants spend all day sitting
at a desk.
True
False
53% of young people think accountants sit at desks all day.
From offices, to client sites to working from home, your working life will be varied at Grant Thornton. Hear from Aaron and Natacha about their careers.
False
False
"One of the standout client experiences for me so far was being driven round the test track at a sports car manufacturing site and having a tour of the factory."
Aaron Farmer
Read more about Aaron's story
"I have had the opportunity to work overseas on a project and was trusted to be the only Grant Thornton UK representation on site with the client."
Natacha Roberts
Read more about Natacha's story
You get real responsibility as a trainee here and no project or week is the same.
I am nearing the end of my training programme and am so pleased I made a career change to join Grant Thornton, the variety in my work and clients is much more than I had expected.
I have had the opportunity to work overseas on a project and was trusted to be the only Grant Thornton UK representation on site with the client. You often hear that you get real responsibility as a trainee but at Grant Thornton that is true and this was testament to this. I’m also very lucky that the location I went to was the Seychelles!
After I graduated from university I worked in criminal defence but I realised this wasn’t where I wanted to spend my career, as I missed numbers too much. I joined the Forensics team in September 2020 and moved into the Insolvency and asset recovery team in 2021 and I haven’t looked back, I love combining my interest in forensics and investigations with my love of numbers.
Read more people stories
Natacha Roberts
London
Advisory
Graham Howard, Tax Director
No two weeks are ever the same and I rarely work from one place for long. I travel the country to referee National League football and so I’m often setting up to work 100+ miles away from my home office. Grant Thornton is really supportive and allows me to work flexibly around my football commitments. I loved the idea of getting a professional qualification whilst also working full time.
I first found out about Grant Thornton’s school leaver apprenticeship from my teacher at college. I now manage the firm’s relationship with my old sixth form and think it’s important we continue to provide advice to students on the opportunities available.
I have two long-term aspirations for the future. The first is to continue to progress at Grant Thornton and see where my career takes me. The second is to referee the World Cup Final.
You won’t regret choosing a career in accountancy. It opens up so many opportunities. One of the standout client experiences for me so far was being driven round the test track at a sports car manufacturing site and having a tour of the factory.
Read more people stories
Aaron Farmer
Chelmsford
Audit
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