Public Sector Audit Graduate Programme (Autumn 2025) - Liverpool

More than you expected

Grant Thornton UK LLP is part of a global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 73,000 people in over 150 countries. We're a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion and integrity first. All around the world we bring a different experience to our clients. A better experience. One that delivers the expertise they need in a way that goes beyond. Personal, proactive, and agile. That's Grant Thornton.

Great minds. Nothing alike.

Get to know us, our clients and start learning more about yourself. As an auditor in our Public Sector team, you’ll be connecting with the issues that bodies responsible for key public services are facing. You will be providing independent advice so they can confidently do what is right and make the best decisions for the future.

The UK public services are facing unprecedented challenges and a constantly evolving landscape that calls for an approach that protects the public purse. You will need to push ideas harder and ask difficult questions, giving our clients the assurance they need and helping them to make a difference to the lives of the population they serve.

Public Sector Audit is a specialist team with over 400 members across the UK. As part of the team, you’ll be working with public bodies, government departments and national services, working to understand the issues they are facing, giving you a real opportunity to make a difference. During times of rapid change and financial challenge, Public Sector bodies increasingly require assurance over their use of resources and financial accounts. There will be challenges along the way, but you’ll be supported and able to meet each one with a solution. That’s how you excel here.

A look into your future

Our three-year graduate programme is designed to take you on a journey from graduate to professionally qualified. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll experience during your first three years:

• Hands on experience in the different aspects of audit, with a variety of clients, from NHS trusts to Fire Authorities and Local Councils
• Our portfolio of clients includes the biggest and most significant of local public bodies, including household names as Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, the Metropolitan Police and the majority of England’s core cities
• You’ll get experience working on all kinds of projects with work including the application of state-of-the-art data analytics tools and techniques, that include the automated interrogation of financial information systems
• Responsibility and the opportunity to take ownership for interesting and challenging client work
• You’ll develop a great internal and external network to learn from
• You’ll be required to spend time going out to work at client sites
• Working closely with colleagues to provide robust challenge and market leading insights to help clients meet their regulatory needs and business objectives

In this programme you’ll study towards becoming ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant) or CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy) qualified.

Knowing that you’re right for us

We’ve set ambitious growth targets for the firm, and we need the right people to help us achieve these. We’re looking for people who will bring ambition and drive to their role. In changing markets, we need to be able to work at pace and be adaptable to change and to be curious, asking questions of ourselves, each other and our clients to ensure we are delivering the services and quality we expect.

We’ve got an adaptable approach to academic entry requirements, and we’ll consider these alongside your strengths and motivations. We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves.

How we work

We have a trust-based way of working at Grant Thornton, driven by responsible people who have the best interests of our firm and our clients at heart. Our teams work between our offices, client sites and at their homes. As a trainee, in-person working is important and is a great way to help you learn even more about the firm and the work we do, as well building relationships and connections with your peers. Once you know the team you will be joining, we will advise of their working patterns, and of course where required there is flex within this.

Study

You’ll need to be focused, committed, and organised as a trainee, to balance your study and work requirements. You will be provided with study leave to help you complete your professional qualification, but you will also find you need to study in your spare time outside of your working hours. Completing a professional qualification is a substantial commitment and its worth taking this into consideration before applying.

Knowing we’re right for you

The culture at Grant Thornton is what sets us apart, we’re known for our inclusive culture and creating environments where all our people can flourish. The things that set you apart, we value them, and this helps us all to perform at our best.

Our values are the unwavering principles that shape our daily behaviours and decisions, alongside our drive to do the right thing. We’re looking for people who align with our values and are purposefully driven, curious and candid but kind.

It’s not just about our culture and values, in additional to a competitive salary and reward package, us you’ll also get:

• Tailored development programmes and access to coaching
• Adaptable bank holidays – allowing you to celebrate the days that are important to you
• Benefits including pension, life assurance and private medical, additional holiday purchasing and health benefits
• Anytime benefits giving you access to shopping discounts, gym memberships, financial advice

Beyond the job

Life is more than work. Our framework for how we work outlines our approach to agile working, and together with your people manager and team, you’ll decide the best way of working, for your clients, your team and for you. Everyone here enjoys a competitive salary, and you’ll receive our core benefits including, life assurance, income protection and private medical cover plus access to a range of voluntary benefits to choose from focused on health, family and wellbeing.

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

You deserve the best start to your career. Come to where you’ll learn more, where you won’t limit yourself, and where you’ll discover exactly what you’re capable of. Choose Grant Thornton. It’s how it should be.

Before applying, we would encourage you to visit our employability hub to get a feel for what it’s like to start your career with us and to get some hints and tips for the next stage in our process.