Grant Thornton UK (Level 7) Roles

Grant Thornton School Leaver Apprenticeships – 2027

Applications opened: 28 September 2026
Start: Autumn 2027
Programme: School Leaver / Apprentice Associate Programme
Salary: £29,000 starting salary
Employment: Permanent, full-time
Main areas: Audit, Tax
Qualification: Fully funded professional accountancy/tax qualification
Academic requirements: Grant Thornton states that it takes a flexible approach to academic entry requirements and considers academic performance alongside strengths and motivation.

Current 2027 Apprenticeship Routes

Private Capital Audit School Leaver Programme

Locations:

Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Colchester, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton

This is the largest apprenticeship route currently released.

Students work with businesses across different industries, analysing financial information, testing evidence, reviewing internal controls and helping provide confidence that financial statements are accurate.

Professional qualifications can include CFAB followed by ACA in England and Wales, while apprentices in Scotland can work towards ICAS Chartered Accountant (CA).

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Public Sector Audit School Leaver Programme

Locations:

Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester

Students work on audits of public-sector organisations and learn how public money is managed, reported and controlled.

The role develops accounting, analytical, audit and professional judgement skills while apprentices work towards a professional accountancy qualification.

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Financial Services Audit School Leaver Programme

Location: London

This apprenticeship specialises in auditing organisations within the financial-services industry.

Students can gain experience analysing financial information, controls and risks within financial institutions while developing towards a professional accounting qualification.

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Pension Audit School Leaver Programme

Location: Manchester

Apprentices work with corporate pension schemes, industry-wide schemes and master trusts.

Work can involve:

• Testing pension contributions and benefits
• Reviewing financial statements
• Assessing internal controls
• Examining pension assets and liabilities
• Understanding governance and regulatory requirements
• Working with major corporate clients

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Not-for-Profit Audit School Leaver Programme

Locations:

Birmingham, London

This route focuses on organisations in the not-for-profit sector while developing the same core audit, accounting and professional skills as Grant Thornton's wider Audit programme.

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Tax School Leaver Programme

Locations:

Birmingham, London, Manchester

Students advise businesses and individuals on tax and develop an understanding of how taxation influences business decisions, investments, people, risk and growth.

Work can involve:

• Analysing real client data
• Researching tax legislation
• Applying tax rules to transactions
• Supporting clients with compliance
• Understanding business structures
• Identifying tax risks and opportunities

Relevant professional qualifications can include ACA, ICAS, CFAB, ATT, CTA, ACCA, CIMA or DTS, depending on the role and location.

Salary & Benefits

Grant Thornton's new 2027 Associate Programme advertises a £29,000 starting salary, alongside:

• Fully funded professional qualifications
• Paid study leave
• Tuition and qualification fees paid
• Full employee benefits package
• Named Partner sponsor from the start
• International exposure
• Access to AI and digital tools
• Client responsibility from early in the programme
• Structured professional and leadership development
• Opportunities to get involved in business development

Entry Requirements

Grant Thornton has deliberately moved away from publishing a rigid UCAS-points requirement on these current vacancies.

The vacancies state that the firm has a flexible approach to academic entry requirements and considers these alongside an applicant's strengths and motivations.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate:

• Commercial curiosity
• Problem solving
• Strong communication
• Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Digital curiosity
• Attention to detail
• Motivation and ownership of their career development

Application Process

1. Online application
A short initial application form.

2. Neurosight online assessment
Usually takes under five minutes and assesses strengths and potential.

3. Written case study
Approximately 20 minutes. Students interpret written information and data and produce a short written response. Grant Thornton assesses analytical skills, critical reasoning and written communication.

4. Virtual group exercise
Candidates work with others on a task while being assessed on collaboration, communication and time management.

5. Final interview
An individual interview at a Grant Thornton office with one or two people from the relevant service line.

Questions can include motivations such as “Why Grant Thornton?”, “Why Audit/Tax?”, values, interests and previous experiences.

2027 Programme Changes

Grant Thornton has redesigned its Associate Programme for the September 2027 intake.

The firm says the new programme is intended to offer:

• Higher starting pay
• Faster development
• Greater exposure to clients
• Increased use of AI and digital technology
• Earlier business-development experience
• A clearer long-term pathway towards senior positions and partnership

Grant Thornton has described the programme as part of its ambition to build future leaders rather than simply recruit trainees.