Hark originally joined Grant Thornton as an Intern in the Public Sector Audit team. He has since progressed to their Graduate scheme and has outlined his experience below.
I initially joined Grant Thornton as a graduate, after completing a summer internship working in the Public Sector Audit team, giving me an insight into working at a professional services firm. My internship was a steep learning curve, but it was also enjoyable, interesting and support was always on hand. At first, I was nervous about my lack of audit knowledge however this was expected, and the team provided plenty of training and guidance. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of time taken out by colleagues to coach junior members of staff, demonstrating the people-focused culture of Grant Thornton.
When starting as a trainee, although interactive and technical training was provided, I feel the best form of training was on-the-job - it really is the best way to learn. I learnt things you can’t possibly learn in a classroom, and in only my second week I went on my first client visit. Whilst Public Sector Audit may seem niche, I really enjoy the variety in work, working with different organisations including local governments, NHS bodies, police and fire authorities. The outcomes of the audits are really satisfying, knowing we have been directly involved with providing assurance that the taxpayer money is being spent correctly; aligning with the Grant Thornton culture of doing what’s right, ahead of what’s easy.
Grant Thornton provides opportunities to all staff – I have been able to get involved with some fun projects outside of audit including working with the local government advisory team, preparing tender documents for prospective clients and other colleagues have been given the opportunity to do secondments in other service lines within the firm.
I’m proud to be part of an organisation that is committed to my progress and development. Although the thought of studying and working simultaneously sounds daunting, I was well supported throughout my studies by both Grant Thornton and my training provider, with regular study leave allowing me to focus on personal goals. This showed me that the firm truly care for and value the differences between their employees. Post qualification, the encouragement to train and develop continues, having been recently promoted to Manager. I believe the trainee scheme has allowed me to build a diverse skillset with some invaluable experiences, encouraging myself, and all colleagues to excel.
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