Employment Tax Executive Review

by Grant Thornton

Rating

6/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

I am an executive in employment taxes. This involves dealing with both discrete pieces of work for clients, and providing an ongoing service in terms of ad hoc advice and relationship maintenance.

8/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

I am still in the process of acquiring commercial awareness. I have developed existing skills by using them in new ways in new contexts. I have really enjoyed learning about the new aspects of corporate life.

8/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

I am currently enjoying it greatly, although it is very hard work, and I am tending to work very long hours. I am still finding the commercial world a bit of a culture shock after HMRC.

8/10

4. How valued do you feel by Grant Thornton?

I do not particularly feel valued by Grant Thornton, at all. I am disabled, and older than most of my colleagues, and this has caused problems. Also, in my location I am the only person in my business line, which can be very isolating.

4/10

5. How well organised/structured is your programme?

At first it was not organised at all, as I did not have proper IT resources, nor any local help. The situation is much better now, as I have survived so far, and am actually beginning to win work myself.

4/10

6a. How much support do you receive from your training provider?

I have not had very much support at all. The problem was that as I was not allocated anyone specific to provide support, the net result was that as it was nobody's job, I couldn't get anyone to support me.

4/10

6b. How much support do you receive from your employer?

At first I got very little, but I get much more support now from my team, and things are a lot better. I do not feel quite so much out on a limb, but I still feel that I am not supported in my location, as I am a regional, not a local resource.

6/10

7. How well does your salary/package meet your costs?

I am happy with my salary, but the location where I work is very grade conscious, and does not value people for the work they do, but for their grade/job title, which is a problem as I do not really fit into their structure.

6/10

8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?

There are quite a few company activities, but I am very seldom considered for any of them, as I do not fit in to my local structure. I also end up spending a lot of time at work, so I don't really have much "outside work" left.

6/10

9. Would you recommend Grant Thornton to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

This is a good ethical firm to work for. The approach is very different to other accountancy firms. The firm is very joined up in some areas, but not in others.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Grant Thornton?

1. Try to get as senior sounding job title as possible. 2. Pin down as quickly as possible who is to support you both locally and in your team. 3. Make sure you have clerical support 4. Make sure you have a designated people manager as soon as possible. 5. Persevere, it's worth it!