If you are thinking of joining one of the best consulting firms, you might want to weigh the pros and cons of working at Grant Thornton.
I’ve noticed that the good working environment, an extensive clientele, better learning opportunities, and rewards & benefits are some of the pros of starting a career at Grant Thornton.
On the other hand, the cons of working at the firm are:
- Long working hours
- Bad management and HR department
- Low compensation
In this comprehensive article, I’ll analyze:
- 4 pros of working at Grant Thornton
- 3 cons of working there
- I’ll shed light on the factors that can impact your career journey there.
Table of Contents
Pros of Working At Grant Thornton
Before applying or accepting your job offer at Grant Thornton, let me tell you some pros of working there so you can make the right decision for your future.
1. Working Environment
At Grant Thornton, the working environment is carefully tailored toward prioritizing professionalism above just commercial pursuits.
Its core values revolve around:
- Trust
- Integrity
- Collaboration
- Flexibility
The firm’s dynamic work environment operates at a swift pace. It is characterized by a hybrid approach that involves both client site visits and office-based tasks.
Notably, Grant Thornton also focuses on your growth and development. For this purpose, it fosters an environment that reflects support and friendliness. (Source)
According to an employee on Glassdoor, “Fantastic work culture, professional environment, great benefits, great technology. Overall, there are many aspects that make GT a wonderful place to work. Very intelligent co-workers, nice work spaces. It feels good working at GT, and the work-life balance is great. Very nice partners and overall good leadership.” (Source)
2. Extensive Client Portfolio
Working at Grant Thornton gives you the chance to directly engage with different clients from various industries, including:
- Real Estate
- Wholesale
- ICT
- Construction
- Manufacturing sector
If you explore and contribute to the clients from these industries, it can improve your expertise and broaden your skill set. This can also give you insights into the unique challenges these sectors have to present. (Source)
More importantly, Grant Thornton gathers a client portfolio for you based on your interests, experience, and availability.
Besides working with your own multidisciplinary team, you also get the chance to work closely with employees from the firm’s international offices (which means more exposure for you!). (Source)
3. Better Learning Opportunities
Another standout advantage of working at Grant Thornton is the learning opportunities it provides. Here, you can acquire multiple skills through inter-departmental learning, like:
- Advisory
- Financial Accounting
- Tax
- Financial reporting
- Audit
- Data Analytics (Source)
But that’s not all! Grant Thornton has a culture where senior colleagues are readily available to assist you and clear your doubts. This support system proves invaluable when you face challenging tasks with clients. (Source)
Grant Thornton has also introduced several learning and development programs to help you grow leadership skills. Some of them are:
- The Emerging Leaders program
- Advances leader programme
- Exceptional coach program
- Global milestone program (Source)
4. Rewards and Benefits
Flexibility has no universal solution that fits everyone. Grant Thornton understands this, and that’s why it gives you a range of options to align your work style with your personal responsibilities, such as:
- Hybrid working environment
- Flexible working arrangements
- Generous paid time off with a minimum of 9 paid and 1 floating holiday annually
- Half-day Fridays
- International work opportunities
The company also prioritizes your well-being and provides you with a span of resources to build emotional resilience, adaptability, and endurance.
The table below shows some of the other perks that you can enjoy while working at Grant Thornton:
| Well-being | Lifestyle | Financial Security |
| 24/7 counseling services for the well being of you and your family | Fitness membership for physical or virtual workouts | Comprehensive insurance plans |
| Resources for stress reduction and building resilience | Reimbursements for fitness equipment and other lifestyle benefits | Robust retirement plans that include a 4% annual contribution |
| Senior care solutions for aged loved ones | Family planning and health treatment benefits | 401(k) saving programs |
| 30 days per year back-up childcare | Generous skill time of a minimum of 72 hours | Support for life milestones |
| 365, 24/5 mental well-being support | Access to over 1,000 virtual fitness classes | Student loan refinancing |
(Source)
2. Cons Of Working At Grant Thornton
Now that you have learned about the pros, I want to let you know the flip side of working at Grant Thornton.
1. Long Working Hours
The work-life balance at Grant Thornton can be challenging, and you might even find yourself working on Saturdays and Sundays during busy seasons. (Source)
Not only that, but your specific department and the nature of your workload can also affect your working hours. (Source)
As per an employee, “Overall, this company has an amazing culture and great opportunities for growth and learning. The hardest part of the job for me was commuting and working long hours.” (Source)
2. Bad Management and HR Department
The management and HR at Grant Thornton are usually criticized for their inadequate performance and bad behavior towards the employees.
Since the firm has a high turnover rate, the management forces the burden on your shoulders. This compels you to extend your working hours and fulfill tasks beyond your regular schedules.
The management and HR department at Grant Thornton is also known for lacking transparency related to their overall direction and initiatives.
Another concerning attitude is that the higher management usually values the completion of the task over its quality. It often fails to recognize the value of effort you put into the work. (Source)
3. Low Compensation
Grant Thornton has a relatively low compensation compared to other players in the auditing industry. In fact, its base salaries are below the market standards, and the bonus percentages are disappointingly meager.
This raises concerns and can leave you wondering if you can earn significant income for personal development and growth. (Source)
Summing Up!
In this detailed guide, I’ve shed light on the 4 pros and 3 cons of working at Grant Thornton to give you a complete insight.
The good working environment, better learning opportunities, and extensive clientele at Grant Thornton can present you with enticing opportunities. However, it’s equally important to consider the disadvantages of working at the firm before making any decision to join their ranks.
If you’re still interested in getting a job at Grant Thornton, I found the following youtube video really helpful:
