Rhianna: doing accountancy my way

I had my career path all planned out, good GCSEs, even better A levels and then going to a prestigious university to study Accounting and Finance, just like my sisters and mum had done and what my school had told me was the only route into Accountancy. So, when I got to university and realised it wasn’t for me, I didn’t know what to do.

My school hadn’t offered subjects like accounting and so my A levels were the subjects I was good at (Biology, Chemistry and PE) so how could I get a job in Accountancy without any relevant qualifications? When university didn’t work out, I took a year off to earn some money, travel and research my next steps. This is when I first heard about the school leaver programme and I was shocked to learn that I could get the same career and professional qualifications without going to university, and actually, I can get there faster whilst earning and not accumulating student debt!

So far in my role, as well as working towards my qualifications, I’ve also been able to develop skills in communication, problem solving and teamwork. I have had opportunities to travel across the country, both to client sites and different Grant Thornton offices. Having the chance to apply my studies to real cases has really enhanced my learning, I have gained confidence and am able to work with a wide range of people due to all the different opportunities my role has given me.

Everyone at Grant Thornton is so kind, welcoming and supportive and the ability to alter your work life balance to suit you is really helpful, especially when it comes to exams and studying. All the team events and opportunities provided really enrich the experience of working at Grant Thornton and make us feel valued and help us bond as a team.