What is your background?
I originally come from an engineering background having studied
Sports Technology at Loughborough University. I
participated in the industrial placement scheme employed by the
University and worked as a Mechanical Engineer for one year. I
currently work in Business Risk Services for Grant Thornton and
have found that coming from an unrelated background has not placed
any hindrance on my development.
What does BRS do?
Business Risk Services provide an internal audit service to
private and public sector organisations. To put it simply, we
assess the processes within an organisation and highlight key risks
the organisation faces in it's current climate.
What is involved in your role?
Despite only being a trainee, I have huge responsibility in the
form of performing reviews and providing feedback to clients. I
regularly attend meetings with client directors and senior
managers.
In terms of the review itself, it is my responsibility to gain
an understanding of the processes with which an organisation
operates and then to test the processes to ensure everything is
going to plan. This is typically achieved through interviews with
key client staff.
What about your professional
qualification?
As part of my trainee contract, I am also expected to study for
the ACA. While there is no doubt that this is hard work and a lot
of home study is required, it is also rewarding and opens up a lot
of doors in the future.
How have you found the training support?
Grant Thornton itself provides trainees with a lot of support
towards the exams primarily in the form of training college, study
leave, and Bradenham Manor. My experience at training college has
shown that Grant Thornton trainees genuinely receive greater
support in comparison to other firms, particularly the Big 4.
…what about the future?
As for the future, it is difficult to say. The ACA does provide
many prospective careers opportunities - looking internally at
Grant Thornton, there are many opportunities to gain experience in
different areas from inter-departmental secondments to
international placements.
From a personal point of view, I aspire to make Partner and
enjoy the responsibility that comes with it.