How has your career developed since
joining the firm?
In leaps and bounds. I joined the firm fresh
out of university, so I had very little financial knowledge. The
last five years have seen me learn an incredible amount – about
auditing and accounting, but also about business in general.
Since becoming a manager, I've had the chance
to focus on specific sectors and develop real expertise in my
chosen areas. I've also worked in California and taught at our
national training centre. Last year, Accountancy Age picked me as a
finalist for the Young Accountant of the Year Award. Such an
accolade wouldn’t have been possible without all the opportunities
I’ve been afforded here.
How would you describe the training
and development here?
I joined the firm’s trainee programme and was
impressed by both its content and structure. The post-qualification
support is phenomenal too. There are lots of training courses
available, both technical and non-technical, for employees at all
levels. The firm is also excellent at knowledge sharing, which
gives you real confidence in dealing with clients. It makes it that
much easier to stay up to speed with the latest trends and industry
developments.
Tell us about the team you work with.
How would you describe the kind of person who succeeds
here?
I think there are three key ingredients.
First, you need to be able to see things from different points of
view. You need to understand where the client is coming from as
well as the firm's position on issues.
Second, you need to be a team worker. Much as
we strive to understand everything about our clients’ business,
there's no way one member of the team can do all the work or know
every issue the client is facing. You need to be able to draw
knowledge from other members of the team to ensure you’re providing
the best service.
Third, you need to be resilient. Working with
clients can be challenging. The most demanding clients, however,
are also often the most rewarding.
What’s the most surprising thing about
Grant Thornton?
I was really struck by how down-to-earth
people are here. Before joining, I was aware that this was a hugely
respected international firm. So I expected a stuffy, corporate
environment. The reality, however, couldn’t be more different.
Every day I go to work with a load of people who I genuinely
consider to be friends.