Interim Quantum / Cryptography Specialist

Grant Thornton UK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 111,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Grant Thornton UK is seeking an Interim Quantum/Cryptography Specialist to join our Agile Talent Community. The role is UK-wide with hybrid-working, delivering advisory engagements on cryptography and quantum-readiness for clients across financial services and beyond.

You’ll assess where current cryptographic standards break down under quantum computing and shape post-quantum migration roadmaps, translating technical detail into board-level insight.

Qualifications

• Cryptography background with understanding of PQC impact on crypto.
• Experience building or advising on PQC migration roadmap: crypto inventory/discovery, prioritisation and transition planning.
• Ability to translate a highly technical subject into a board-level narrative and plan.
• Awareness of emerging standards (NIST PQC, CNSA 2.0) and vendor tooling in this space.
• Relevant cryptography/security certification or academic background; NCSC or industry quantum-readiness experience a strong plus

Skills

Cryptography background

PQC migration roadmap

Board-level storytelling

Emerging standards awareness

Security certification/background

Education

Cryptography/Security degree

Job description

Who We Are

At Grant Thornton we’re building something bold. We’re doing things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity. Our journey from great to exceptional is well underway. With significant investment behind us and a clear strategy for growth, there’s real momentum.

Our Agile Talent Community (ATC) brings together experienced contract professionals who want choice without losing connection. You work where you add the most value, alongside teams who treat you as a partner rather than a placeholder.

Assignment Description:

Interim Quantum / Cryptography Specialist (UK wide, Hybrid-working)

Grant Thornton's Cyber Advisory team is rebuilding and growing its talent pool to support a strengthening pipeline of client work spanning cyber maturity assessments, governance and controls, third-party risk and emerging technology advisory. We’re looking for experienced cyber professionals to join our Agile Talent Community and deliver Grant Thornton-led advisory engagements for clients across financial services and beyond.

If you’re a cryptography specialist with a genuine quantum-readiness background, you’ll help our clients understand where current cryptographic standards break down under quantum computing and advise on their post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration roadmap — from crypto inventory and discovery through prioritisation and transition planning. You’ll be equally comfortable translating a highly technical subject into a board-level narrative.

Skills We Are Looking For

• Cryptography background, with a clear understanding of where current cryptographic standards break under quantum computing
• Experience building or advising on a PQC migration roadmap: crypto inventory/discovery, prioritisation and transition planning
• Able to translate a highly technical subject into a board-level narrative and plan
• Awareness of emerging standards (NIST PQC, CNSA 2.0) and vendor tooling in this space
• Relevant cryptography/security certification or academic background preferred; NCSC or industry quantum-readiness experience a strong plus

Why Consultants choose the ATC

Work that moves you forward

When a project fits your skills, we’ll get in touch, but you choose whether it’s right for you. That means working on engagements that genuinely build your portfolio and expand your expertise.

The freedom of contracting without the hidden admin

You’re not left to navigate the freelance world alone. Our Agile Talent team helps you understand freelance regulation and connects you with people who broaden your thinking through our teams and clients.

Community you can actually feel

Connection shouldn’t disappear just because you’re contracting. From market insights to wellbeing sessions to networking events, you’ll be part of a community designed to make the independent path less isolated and more impactful.

Our culture and values

We have a culture where talented people thrive – where high performance is not just expected but enabled. It’s a culture built on clarity, curiosity, and care. One that challenges us to aim higher, where we’re encouraged to make the most of an abundance of resources to fuel our own development, and where we support each other to grow, learn, and succeed.

Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.