2027 Audit Graduate Programme – Belfast

Grant Thornton; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Grant Thornton's Audit Graduate Programme in Belfast offers hands‑on exposure to Corporate Audit, Financial Services Audit and Global Statutory Audit across a diverse client base. As a Graduate Trainee, you’ll gain practical accounting and audit experience from day one while developing technical skills and professional resilience.

You will be supported with structured learning, study leave, and a clear pathway for long‑term career progression within a collaborative, client‑facing environment.

Qualifications

• Strong IT, analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to quality.
• Curiosity about how businesses operate.
• Proactive and collaborative mindset.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to analyse information critically and think commercially.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and executing financial statement audits.
• Review financial records, business processes and internal controls.
• Analyse financial data and assess audit risks.
• Prepare audit working papers and supporting documentation.
• Perform substantive testing across key financial statement areas.
• Participate in stock counts and other audit procedures.
• Support the identification and assessment of control weaknesses and business risks.
• Work directly with clients to gather information and understand their operations.
• Prepare reports, presentations and client deliverables.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Audit, Tax and Advisory teams.

Skills

IT skills

Analytical ability

Problem solving

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Curiosity

Collaborative mindset

Time management

Education

2.1 degree or above

Job description

Graduate Programme 2027 – Audit

Real Opportunities with Grant Thornton's Graduate Programme.

About Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton is one of Ireland's leading professional services firms, with nearly 3,000 people and a global network spanning more than 145 countries. We combine local expertise with international insight to help clients solve complex challenges and achieve sustainable growth.

Audit

About the Team

Grant Thornton's Audit practice provides independent assurance services to organisations across a wide range of industries, helping stakeholders make informed business decisions with confidence. Our professionals combine technical expertise, commercial understanding and industry knowledge to deliver high-quality audits that go beyond compliance.

The Audit practice comprises Corporate Audit, Financial Services (FS) Audit and Global Statutory Audit teams, providing graduates with exposure to a diverse range of industries, organisations and audit environments.

Corporate Audit works with clients ranging from large multinational corporations and listed entities to privately owned businesses and rapidly growing entrepreneurial companies.

Financial Services (FS) Audit supports a broad range of regulated entities, including investment funds, asset managers, aircraft leasing companies, banking institutions and insurance businesses.

Global Statutory Audit works with multinational organisations to coordinate statutory audit requirements across multiple jurisdictions, collaborating with Grant Thornton member firms around the world to deliver seamless and consistent audit services.

Our professionals support clients across a variety of sectors, including:

• Technology
• Financial Services
• Aviation and Leasing
• Manufacturing
• Healthcare and Life Sciences
• Retail and Consumer Business
• Real Estate and Construction
• Energy and Infrastructure

As an Audit Graduate, you'll gain hands‑on experience from day one, working with a diverse portfolio of clients and developing a deep understanding of how businesses operate. You'll have the opportunity to build strong technical accounting and auditing knowledge while gaining valuable insight into the financial and operational drivers behind business performance.

Whether working with large multinational organisations, indigenous Irish businesses, high‑growth companies or public interest entities, you'll contribute to engagements that help build trust and confidence in financial reporting.

What You Will Do

As a Graduate Trainee within Audit, you'll work closely with experienced auditors and client teams on a variety of audit and assurance engagements across Corporate Audit, FS Audit and Global Statutory Audit.

You may have the opportunity to:

• Assist in planning and executing financial statement audits.
• Review financial records, business processes and internal controls.
• Analyse financial data and assess audit risks.
• Prepare audit working papers and supporting documentation.
• Perform substantive testing across key financial statement areas.
• Participate in stock counts and other audit procedures.
• Support the identification and assessment of control weaknesses and business risks.
• Work directly with clients to gather information and understand their operations.
• Prepare reports, presentations and client deliverables.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Audit, Tax and Advisory teams.

The Experience You Will Gain

You’ll gain practical experience working with businesses of varying sizes and complexities while developing a strong understanding of accounting standards, regulatory requirements and audit methodology.

How We Will Support Your Development

At Grant Thornton, we are committed to helping our people realise their potential.

As an Audit Graduate, you’ll benefit from:

• Structured learning and development programmes.
• Professional qualification support through ACA training.
• Dedicated mentoring and coaching.
• Technical accounting and audit training.
• Study leave and exam support.
• Opportunities to work directly with senior stakeholders and client management teams.
• Access to The Academy training programme.
• Clear pathways for long‑term career progression and leadership development.

Our culture encourages curiosity, innovation and continuous improvement, giving graduates the support and opportunities needed to build successful careers in professional services.

Who We're Looking For

We welcome applications from graduates across a broad range of disciplines who are interested in business, finance and professional services.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Strong IT, analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to quality.
• Curiosity about how businesses operate.
• A proactive and collaborative mindset.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• The ability to analyse information critically and think commercially.
• A minimum 2.1 degree, or expected equivalent, in any discipline.

It would also be helpful if you have

• Experience gained through an internship, part‑time role, volunteering, university society or team‑based project.
• An interest in how organisations change, improve services or make better use of technology

Join Us

Join Grant Thornton's Audit team and gain exposure to some of Ireland's most dynamic organisations across Corporate Audit, Financial Services Audit and Global Statutory Audit. You’ll develop technical expertise, commercial insight and professional skills while helping businesses maintain transparency, accountability and trust.

Location and working arrangement: Belfast office, primarily office‑based.

Closing date Thursday 22 October 2026. Selection process early November 2026. Start date Autumn 2027.

Real Opportunities with Grant Thornton's Graduate Programme.

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About Us

About the Team