Grant Thornton UK LLP is part of a global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 73,000 people in over 150 countries. We're a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion and integrity first. All around the world we bring a different experience to our clients. A better experience. One that delivers the expertise they need in a way that goes beyond. Personal, proactive, and agile. That's Grant Thornton.
Great minds. Nothing alike.
Get to know us, our clients and start learning more about yourself. In a world of increasingly complex tax legislation, our clients need to understand how the evolving tax landscape impacts their business. As a tax graduate associate in our VAT team, you will help clients be proactive and keep ahead of changing legislation in a digital age, optimising their tax position and minimising risk. In recent years, there has been a domestic and global trend of Governments shifting emphasis from direct to indirect taxation. Globally, while corporation tax rates have generally decreased, VAT rates have risen.
What's more, businesses now face complex VAT systems, case law, guidance and legislation. Companies need to comply with thorny VAT rules when entering new markets, stretching out globally or joining international supply chains. Meanwhile, liabilities, errors and assessments can also attract interest and penalties.
At Grant Thornton, we help our clients overcome these challenges and take control of indirect tax.
A look into your future
Our three-year graduate programme is designed to take you on a journey from graduate to professionally qualified. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll experience during your first three years:
- Hands on experience in the different aspects of VAT, with a variety of clients in different sectors including organisations in media and entertainment, technology, finance, and the not-for-profit sector
- Responsibility from early in your career, taking ownership for interesting and challenging client work
- Working in the VAT team you’ll provide VAT and customs advice to clients across all sectors, whilst ensuring compliance with VAT rules and identifying opportunities for efficiencies to be made across their reporting processes and supply chains
- You will be responsible for drafting written advice in report or memo format and will analyse and understand clients’ VAT data using Excel.
- You’ll develop a strong internal and external network to learn from
- Working closely with colleagues to interpret complex legislation and deliver strategic solutions, providing our clients with clear advice and recommendations they can rely on
- On the job learning, alongside a structured training programme
- Time to study and revise for your exams, supported by us all the way to become ATT and then CTA qualified so that you have the technical expertise and insight to advise our clients
Knowing that you’re right for us
We’ve set ambitious growth targets for the firm, and we need the right people to help us achieve these. We’re looking for people who will bring ambition and drive to their role. In changing markets, we need to be able to work at pace and be adaptable to change and to be curious, asking questions of ourselves, each other and our clients to ensure we are delivering the services and quality we expect.
We’ve got a flexible approach to academic entry requirements, and we’ll consider these alongside your strengths and motivations. We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves.
How we work
We have a trust-based way of working at Grant Thornton, driven by responsible people who have the best interests of our firm and our clients at heart. Our teams work between our offices, client sites, at their homes with trainees also attending college as required. As a trainee, in-person working is important and is a great way to help you learn even more about the firm and the work we do, as well building relationships and connections with your peers. Once you know the team you will be joining, we will advise of their working patterns, and of course where required there is flex within this.
Study
You’ll need to be focused, committed, and organised as a trainee, to balance your study and work requirements. You will be provided with study leave to help you complete your professional qualification but you will also find you need to study in your spare time outside of your working hours. Completing a professional qualification is a substantial commitment and its worth taking this into consideration before applying.
Knowing we’re right for you
The culture at Grant Thornton is what sets us apart, we’re known for our inclusive culture and creating environments where all our people can flourish. The things that set you apart, we value them, and this helps us all to perform at our best.
Our values are the unwavering principles that shape our daily behaviours and decisions, alongside our drive to do the right thing. We’re looking for people who align with our values and are purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.
It’s not just about our culture and values, in additional to a competitive salary and reward package, us you’ll also get:
- Tailored development programmes and access to coaching
- Flexible bank holidays – allowing you to celebrate the days that are important to you
- Benefits including pension, life assurance and private medical, additional holiday purchasing and health benefits
- Any benefits giving you access to shopping discounts, gym memberships, financial advice
And more. Visit our benefits section to read more.
Beyond the job
Life is more than work. Our framework for how we work outlines our approach to agile working, and together with your people manager and team, you’ll decide the best way of working, for your clients, your team and for you. Everyone here enjoys a competitive salary, and you’ll receive our core benefits including, life assurance, income protection and private medical cover plus access to a range of voluntary benefits to choose from focused on health, family and wellbeing.
The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.
You deserve the best start to your career. Come to where you’ll learn more, where you won’t limit yourself, and where you’ll discover exactly what you’re capable of. Choose Grant Thornton. It’s how it should be.
Before applying, we would encourage you to visit our employability hub to get a feel for what it’s like to start your career with us and to get some hints and tips for the next stage in our process.