Kieran: getting the variety

Commercial Audit Assistant Manager Kieran spoke with us about why he chose to join our team in Sheffield and the variety he gets in his work here.  

Variety in my career

I joined Grant Thornton’s Sheffield office as a graduate in August 2018, initially joining the pensions audit team. Five years on, I really enjoy the variety I get within my role here, which is clear in the fact that I now have an even split between pension audits and commercial audit clients.

The opportunities and flexibility we have, has given me the chance to experience working on a wide range of different clients in different industries and markets, which I don’t think I would have got from another firm. From small owner-managed businesses, to publicly listed entities, to large pension schemes – there is real variety in the clients I work with and as I have progressed, I have taken on additional responsibility on my jobs, and am now leading audit teams to get the audit completed to a high standard.

Relocating to Sheffield

I decided to relocate to Sheffield due to the city’s close proximity to the Peak District. In my spare time I enjoy being in the outdoors rock climbing and running, and Sheffield’s unique position just 15 minutes from the Peak District National Park was a real pull, allowing me to enjoy city life whilst being able to get out into the countryside.

I really enjoy being a part of the Sheffield office, it’s a really social office and we hold regular social and charity events, with the Sheffield and Leeds offices recently raising over £1,600 for local charities by completing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge. In recent years, teams from the Sheffield office have also completed the Sheffield half marathon and national 3 peaks challenge to raise money for local charities – it’s great to have the opportunity to get involved with so much outside of work and give something back to the communities we work within.

An inclusive environment to grow

We are all encouraged to excel here, and have opportunities, not just through our day-to-day roles, that help us grow within ourselves, and our careers. I’ve recently had the opportunity to get involved with delivering training and joining pitch teams, both of which were new to me and I really enjoyed the opportunity to learn something new.

A lot of firms talk about culture, but the culture at Grant Thornton really does stand out to me. Whichever office I am in, and whichever team I am working with it’s an inclusive environment which encourages everyone to contribute and value those contributions of others. On a daily basis, I have the opportunity to work alongside people from a range of different backgrounds and cultures, including our overseas colleagues from India and the Philippines, really giving me the opportunity to understand more about the people I work with.