By Andre Atallah, CEO of EP Advisory
Audit graduate · Private Capital, Public Sector and more · Autumn 2027
No closing date · 25 open on 15 Oct 2026Check your ad’s closing dateThis cycle’s audit listings have closedMissed it? Your options
Short answer: Apply now. Grant Thornton publishes no closing date and fills places as it goes. On 15 October 2026, 25 audit graduate listings were open.Apply now. Grant Thornton’s audit ads now give a closing date, so check yours. GT fills places as it goes.This cycle’s Grant Thornton audit listings have closed. GT fills places as it goes, so apply early next season. You get one trainee application a year. Then come a short online assessment, an AI-enabled case study, a virtual group exercise and an experience day in London. The ads pay £34,250 to £40,000.
Where are you now?
Independent guide. EP Advisory is not affiliated with Grant Thornton.
Grant Thornton’s Audit Graduate Programme runs for three years, with a fully funded professional qualification. The 2027 intake starts in the autumn.
This playbook covers Private Capital Audit, Public Sector Audit and the other audit streams, office by office. For nearly 10 years, we’ve helped more than 5,000 professionals get hired. Want to know if your CV will pass screening in the UK? Check your CV for free: a score in 30 seconds, then a fix for each problem.
01/10
Your route to an offer
Pick your stage and tick each step when done. Rules and stages are Grant Thornton’s, checked 15 October 2026. Prep times are ours.
2. Online stages: under 5 minutes, then about 50
A short online assessment, then an AI-enabled case study. GT offers a coaching call before the case study.
3. Group exercise: virtual, led by GT
A virtual group exercise, led by GT’s recruitment team. Prep about 1 week.
4. Experience day: in person, London
A day at GT’s London office, with your final interview. Prep 1 to 2 weeks.
Your ticks save on this device.
02/10
The programme at a glance
A three-year programme with a funded qualification and a named Partner sponsor. Where Grant Thornton is silent, we say so.
25 openClosed
Audit listings, 15 Oct 2026This cycle’s audit listings
RollingIn the adRolling
No closing date publishedClosing date publishedGT fills places as it goes
3 years
Graduate programme
ACA or ICAS
Qualification, fully funded
£34,250+
Salary; £40,000 in London
£5,000
Milestone bonus, in two halves
Private Capital Audit: 12 listed on 15 Oct 2026
GT calls itself the “fourth largest auditor of the UK’s top 2,500 private companies”.
Public Sector Audit: 7 listed on 15 Oct 2026
Including the new Carlisle hub. GT says this stream gives “the option to study towards ACA”.
Where these facts come from
- Salary. From each ad, read on 15 October 2026. London £40,000, from the IT Audit ad. Cambridge, Colchester, Gatwick, Milton Keynes, Oxford and Southampton £37,250. Other offices £34,250. No Reading graduate ad was listed when we checked on 15 October 2026, so its pay is not confirmed.A Reading graduate ad may be back, so check its pay on GT’s job board. Compare salaries in the UK.
- Bonus. “A milestone bonus of £5,000 (50% paid upon joining and 50% paid upon successful completion of your professional qualification)”.
- Qualification. GT’s audit page says “Graduates: ACA or ICAS”. GT pays “all costs associated with your professional qualification including training and exam sittings”. In Scotland, see ICAS.
- Support. GT’s FAQ says “You can apply for an interest free loan of £2,500 if you need it.”
- Start. The ads say Autumn 2027. GT’s press release says the first cohort will join the new programme in September 2027.said the first cohort would join the new programme in September 2027.
03/10
What Grant Thornton looks for
Every 2027 audit ad lists the same six traits. GT adds that you’ll need “real drive and determination to keep pace and succeed”.
Commercial curiosity
“genuine interest in our clients’ businesses and an eye for spotting opportunities to add value”
A digital explorer’s mindset
“curiosity for digital tools and data, and a drive to find smarter solutions”
Adaptability
“embracing change, asking good questions, and picking things up quickly”
Strong problem-solving skills
“critical thinking, sound judgement, and attention to detail”
Collaborative communication
“listening well, adapting your approach, and building trust with clients and colleagues”
A proactive approach to your career
“taking ownership of your growth and seeking out opportunities”
From every audit ad, such as Bristol Private Capital Audit. The ads also say “You’ll be the one in control, reviewing and challenging the quality of AI inputs and outputs”. The case study tests that judgement. On grades, GT says “we don’t ask for certain degrees to have been studied”.
04/10Stage 1 · Apply
How to apply
Apply now: there is no closing date.Apply now: the ads now give a closing date, so check yours.This cycle’s audit listings have closed. GT says “We’ll fill roles as we go, so the earlier you apply the more chance you’ve got securing a place in the area and location you want”.
1
Pick one listing
One office and stream
2
Fill the form
“a few questions” on why GT
3
Ask for support
Adjustments or positive action
4
Online assessment
Under 5 minutes, after the form
The one-application rule, eligibility and support
- One application. “We only welcome one trainee application per year” (GT’s FAQ).
- No changes later. “As standard, we do not offer the opportunity to change your application once it has been submitted.”
- Eligibility. “There are no minimum requirements for our programmes other than the essentials such as right to work and being eligible for the programme, such as year of study.”
- Earlier exams. Declare any accountancy, tax or finance study. If you failed an exam in the qualification you would take, “please do not apply until the exams have been passed.”
- Support. Adjustments can mean “extra time, a different approach to your interview, or accessibility support”. Opt into positive action on the form for “enhanced coaching throughout your application”.
The audit listings: pick one office and stream
Each office and stream has its own ad. Pick the one you want most, as you get one application.
| Office | Listed on 15 Oct 2026 | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | Public Sector, Grants Audit, Not For Profit | £34,250 |
| Bristol | Private Capital, Public Sector | £34,250 |
| Cambridge | Private Capital | £37,250 |
| Cardiff | Private Capital | £34,250 |
| Carlisle | Public Sector | £34,250 |
| Colchester | Private Capital | £37,250 |
| Edinburgh | Private Capital, Public Sector | £34,250 |
| Gatwick | Private Capital | £37,250 |
| Glasgow | Private Capital, Public Sector | £34,250 |
| Leeds | Value For Money | £34,250 |
| Liverpool | Private Capital, Public Sector | £34,250 |
| London | IT Audit, Not For Profit | £40,000 |
| Manchester | Public Sector, Pension Audit | £34,250 |
| Milton Keynes | Private Capital | £37,250 |
| Oxford | Private Capital | £37,250 |
| Sheffield | Private Capital | £34,250 |
| Southampton | Private Capital | £37,250 |
From GT’s trainee job board, read on 15 October 2026. Ads posted 28 September to 13 October 2026. On that day, no ad gave a closing date. Not listed when we checked on 15 October 2026: Private Capital Audit in Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, London, Manchester and Reading; Public Sector Audit in Leeds and London; Financial Services Audit in London. GT does not say why.Some audit listings missing on 15 October 2026 were back when we checked on 15 October 2026. See GT’s job board.
Your form and CV: do and don’t
Do
“I chose Public Sector Audit after a summer job checking invoices for my local council”
GT asks why you’d like to join. Tie your answer to your stream and a real moment.
Don’t
“I am passionate about joining a leading professional services firm”
It could fit any firm. GT also says “Don’t copy and paste responses from AI.”
GT does not say whether its form asks for a CV. Its AI guide still says to “Tailor your CV for each application”. Our CV achievement examples show how to give each role a result. Getting ready to apply for jobs in the UK? Check your CV for free: see it the way a recruiter does, then fix each problem.
Save Grant Thornton and over 2,000 other UK schemes to one free calendar. See what closes next and what you have applied to.
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Your office not listed, or not selected? Your options
- Another office or stream. Only if you have not applied this year. GT takes one trainee application a year and does not move it once submitted.
- Tax. On 15 October 2026, GT also listed a Tax Graduate programme in Birmingham and Manchester. It is a different programme, under the same one-application rule.GT’s Tax Graduate ads now give a closing date, so check it. It is a different programme, under the same one-application rule.GT’s Tax Graduate listings from this cycle have closed. Tax is a different programme, under the same one-application rule.
- Advisory. On 15 October 2026, GT listed London advisory graduate programmes, such as Forensics Advisory and Counter Fraud.GT’s London advisory graduate ads now give a closing date, so check it.GT’s London advisory graduate listings from this cycle have closed. Also different programmes, under the same rule.
- Still a student? This cycle’s 12-month audit placements have a Summer 2027 start. On 15 October 2026, GT listed them in Leeds, Leicester, Reading and London.The placement ads now give a closing date, so check yours.This cycle’s placement listings have closed. GT says placements “can set you on a fast track through to an offer for your graduate programme” (placements page).
- Next year. “If you are unsuccessful you will need to re-apply in the following August or September”.
05/10Stage 2 · Online stages
The online assessment and AI case study
Stage 01 is a short online assessment, created by Neurosight. GT says “you don’t need to do any significant preparation or practice beforehand”.
Under 5 min
Usual length, says GT
Warm-up
Items first, to ease you in
A report
Your top strengths, afterwards
It is “designed to measure the strengths which enable high performance in a trainee role at Grant Thornton”. GT’s tips: “Read and reread the instructions” and “Try not to overthink it” (process page). No practice version is public.
Stage 02: the AI-enabled case study
GT calls it “a different type of assessment from what you may be familiar with”. Older guides online describe a different case study, so follow GT’s current page.
About 50 minutes
“We’d recommend setting aside 50 minutes”, in a quiet room with stable internet.
Read, then recommend
You review a set of business materials and write a recommendation.
Two short videos
You record them, so use a computer with a working camera and microphone.
A built-in AI tool
Up to 10 prompts. GT names no platform for it.
“What we’re really interested in is your judgement. Do you know when to rely on AI, when to question its output, and when your own thinking should take the lead?” GT assesses “analytical skills, critical reasoning and written communication”, and says “There’s no single right answer.”
GT’s advice on how to prepare
- Coaching call. “we’ll invite you to book a coaching call with our early careers recruitment team before you start.”
- No specialist knowledge. “You don’t need any specialist technical knowledge”. Getting comfortable with a generative AI tool helps, and GT says “Most offer free versions”.
- Practise. Write prompts, ask follow-up questions and review AI answers critically. Try a sample case, though “the assessed task will differ”.
The AI rules: allowed and banned
Allowed
- The built-in AI tool, in the case study only
- AI to research GT and industry trends
- AI to organise your own examples
- Adjustments, such as extra time, if you ask
Banned
- Copying and pasting AI answers
- AI on a second screen in live interviews
- Putting private or GT content into AI tools
- Recording interviews without consent
From GT’s AI dos and don’ts on its process page. They cover “everything else, including your group exercise and experience day”.
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 15 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From the employer
- Our application process: stages 01 and 02Grant Thornton · read stages 01 and 02 · no account neededGT’s own words on the short assessment and the 50-minute case study, with its tips for each.Free
- Skills we look forGrant Thornton · no account neededThe competencies GT looks for at every stage, the tests included. Have one example ready for each.Free
- Early careers FAQs: adjustmentsGrant Thornton · checked 15 Oct 2026 · no account neededGT says the application form lets you “let us know of any adjustments you may need”. Ask there, such as for extra time, before both online stages.Free
Skip paid practice packs for GT’s online assessment or case study. GT says the assessment needs no significant preparation, and no official practice version is public.
Next: see how other employers use reasoning and personality tests in our guide to psychometric and logic tests.
06/10Stage 3 · Group exercise
The group exercise and GT’s interview questions
Stage 03 is a virtual group exercise, led by GT’s recruitment team. GT calls it “the penultimate stage”.
It shows “how you collaborate and work as part of a team”. It is “a chance to share your ideas but also show you can listen and understand requirements”, and “Time management is also at play here”. GT’s tip: “we’re not just looking at how you perform individually”. Group size, length and task are not published.
How to answer: GT’s STARE method
For the experience day, GT suggests STARE when you describe something you’ve done. “Use it as a guide, not a script”.
S
Set the scene
T
Explain the task
A
Describe your action
R
Share the result
E
Reflect
What you’d do differently
Be ready to talk about
What motivates youWhy the purple pathThe skills you’d bringWhere you’re still growing
From GT’s experience day guidance. You can ask for a question “to be repeated or clarified”. See also our guides on how to pass a job interview and the toughest interview questions.
Practise: GT’s published questions
Commercial awareness questions
GT’s three “example questions we may ask you”, from its commercial awareness page. The guidance is GT’s. Card 4 is our own, built on the same page’s research plan.
Why GT
“From your research, what do you think makes Grant Thornton stand out from our competitors and why does that make you want to work here?”
What GT says
- Research GT’s competitors and what makes GT different, such as “our people, our values, and the clients we work with”. “Make sure you know why you put your application in.”
The economy
“What impact could you see the cost of living crisis having on our business and our clients? How can we support them through this?”
What GT says
- “You don’t need to have all the answers. We just want to see you’re paying attention to the world around you”.
GT’s services
“What sort of services do we offer clients?”
What GT says
- “We’re not looking for you to reel off the entire list. But you need to show an understanding of what we do and how our services benefit clients.”
In the news
What business story has caught your eye lately, and what could it mean for our clients?
What GT says
- GT’s plan for “One week before” covers the latest firm and industry news. Pick one story, who it affects and how GT could help.
Motivation questions
GT says what it wants to hear in the final interview, and how to prepare. We turned each point into a question.
Motivation
What motivates you?
What GT says
- “Think about what motivates you and how it could shape your career here: the work you’d like to do, the skills you’d like to build and the impact you’d like to have”.
Your path
Why would you like to take the purple path?
What GT says
- “Research your training programme, and find out where your pathway could lead, right through to partner”.
Your skills
What skills would you bring?
What GT says
- “Write a list of your strengths along with examples of when you’ve shown them”. “Be ready to talk openly about your development areas”.
Still growing
Where are you still growing?
What GT says
- GT’s prep list says to be open about development areas. Name one real area, what you are doing about it and what you would do differently.
Your story bank: a worksheet to print or copy
Two STARE stories for each trait in GT’s audit ads.
| Trait | Story 1 | Story 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial curiosity | ||
| A digital explorer’s mindset | ||
| Adaptability | ||
| Strong problem-solving skills | ||
| Collaborative communication | ||
| A proactive approach to your career |
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 15 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From the employer
- Our application process: stage 04Grant Thornton · read stage 04 and the AI rules · no account neededGT’s prep list for the experience day, its STARE method and its AI dos and don’ts.Free
- Commercial awarenessGrant Thornton · no account neededGT’s three example questions, plus a research plan from one year to one week before.Free
- Audit at Grant ThorntonGrant Thornton · no account neededSize, partners, streams and the 12-week career launchpad. Facts for your why audit at GT answer.Free
Watch
- In conversation with Joanne Ritchie and Katie MalehamThe Way It Is (GT’s podcast) on YouTube · Sep 2024 · 21 minA graduate audit trainee and GT’s technical training director on study leave, college and exams. Recorded before the 2027 changes.Free
- 13 common Big 4 interview questionsJag Dhaliwal ACA on YouTube · Oct 2025 · 30 minCoaches say: escalate and document on ethics questions. His tips for senior interviews suit GT’s final interview.Free
From ICAEW
- ICAEW Code of EthicsICAEW · updated Jul 2026 · no account neededThe five principles auditors work by, from integrity to professional behaviour. GT’s stages test your judgement.Free
07/10Stage 4 · Final
The experience day and your offer
The final round is an experience day, in person at GT’s London office. GT says “this is more than an interview”.
In person, in London
“Our experience days will take place in person at our London office”. Extra Manchester dates are for school leavers.
The day
“hearing from our senior leaders, meeting our teams” and learning about the programmes.
Your final interview
With “senior people from the service line you’ve applied for”. It “won’t always follow a set format, so go in flexible and ready to adapt.”
Coaching first
“You’ll have an individual coaching call before the day.”
After the day
“Your recruiter will be in touch after your experience day. We aim to do this as quickly as possible”. “Whatever the outcome, we’ll give you detailed feedback”.
From GT’s process page, 15 October 2026. The day’s length and the number of interviewers are not published.
Exam and conduct rules: GT, ICAEW and ICAS
- GT’s exam rule. “If you have failed an exam in the qualification you are intending to apply for and not yet passed the resit, please do not apply until the exams have been passed.”
- ICAEW’s rule, not GT’s. Before you join ICAEW, your training principal “will need to confirm that you are a fit and proper person”. “a criminal record” or “an adverse finding by any professional body or regulator” can raise doubts (ICAEW).
- ICAS’s rule, not GT’s. “ICAS General Regulation 2.2 requires all criminal charges and convictions to be reported to us without delay”, and “the same obligations apply to CA student members” (ICAS).
- Offer conditions. GT names the right to work. It publishes no other conditions.
Key dates: Autumn 2027 intake
28 Sep 2026
First audit graduate ads posted
13 Oct 2026
Carlisle Public Sector Audit ad posted
15 Oct 2026
25 listings were open, with no closing date
15 Oct 2026
25 listings were open, with no closing date
Aug 2027 to Sep 2027
GT is likely to reopen for the next intakeGT is likely to reopen for the next intake around nowCheck GT’s job board for the next intake
Sep 2027
The first cohort joinsThe first cohort joined
08/10
Visa sponsorship
Our reading: Grant Thornton’s trainee ads do not mention visa sponsorship. Its only statement covers certain experienced roles. Check your right to work before you apply.
GT says sponsorship for certain experienced roles is “now more limited” (experienced hires page). If you need a visa, ask GT’s early careers recruitment team before you apply.
The Graduate visa and right to work
- Graduate visa. It lasts “2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026” and “18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027” (GOV.UK). The programme runs three years.
- Right to work. GT’s FAQ lists it among “the essentials”. See how to prove your right to work.
Need sponsorship? See our guides to UK companies that sponsor visas and staying in the UK after studying. This is general information, so check GOV.UK.
09/10
Key takeaways
Before you apply
- Grant Thornton publishes no closing date and fills places as it goes, so apply now.Grant Thornton’s audit ads now give a closing date, so check yours and apply soon.This cycle’s audit listings have closed. GT fills places as it goes, so apply early next season.
- You get one trainee application a year, and GT will not change it after you submit.
- The ads pay £34,250, or £37,250 in six offices and £40,000 in London, plus a £5,000 milestone bonus.
- The online assessment takes under 5 minutes and needs no significant preparation.
- The AI case study takes about 50 minutes and tests when you rely on AI and when you question it.
- The final round is an experience day in London, with a final interview with senior people.
When a scheme gives a close date, we email you a few days before it closes. Save Grant Thornton once and the reminder is set.
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10/10
Frequently asked questions
When does the Grant Thornton audit graduate programme close?
Grant Thornton publishes no closing date. It fills places as it goes, so apply early. On 15 October 2026, 25 audit graduate listings for Autumn 2027 were open.Grant Thornton’s audit ads now give a closing date, so check yours. It fills places as it goes, so apply early.This cycle’s audit listings have closed. Grant Thornton fills places as it goes, so apply early next season.
How much does the Grant Thornton audit graduate programme pay?
The ads pay £40,000 in London and £37,250 in Cambridge, Colchester, Gatwick, Milton Keynes, Oxford and Southampton. The other offices pay £34,250. Every ad adds a £5,000 milestone bonus, half on joining and half when you qualify. Checked 15 October 2026.
What is the Grant Thornton online assessment?
A short strengths assessment that usually takes under 5 minutes. It starts with warm-up items. Grant Thornton says you need no significant preparation. Afterwards you get a personalised report of your top strengths.
What is the Grant Thornton AI case study?
Grant Thornton suggests setting aside 50 minutes. You review business materials, write a recommendation and record two short videos. A built-in AI tool helps, with up to 10 prompts. Grant Thornton says it is most interested in your judgement.
Can I apply to more than one Grant Thornton office?
No. Grant Thornton welcomes one trainee application a year, and it does not change your application once you submit it. If you are unsuccessful, you can re-apply in the following August or September.
Do I need an accounting degree for Grant Thornton audit?
No. Grant Thornton says it does not ask for certain degrees, and its ads take a flexible approach to academic entry requirements. The essentials are the right to work and being eligible, such as your year of study.
Does Grant Thornton sponsor visas for audit graduates?
Our reading: the trainee ads do not mention visa sponsorship. Grant Thornton’s only statement covers certain experienced roles and says sponsorship is now more limited. Check your right to work, and ask Grant Thornton before you apply.
