Private Capital Audit School Leaver Programme (Autumn 2026) - Cardiff

Grant Thornton UK LLP; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading audit and advisory firm is seeking school leavers for a five-year programme in Cardiff, providing a pathway to professional qualifications such as CFAB and ACA. Participants will gain hands-on experience with various clients, engage in real audits, and receive dedicated support to balance work and study. This is a unique opportunity to kickstart a meaningful career in business and finance.

Benefits

Fully funded professional qualification

Paid study leave

Competitive salary

Flexible bank holidays

Exclusive discounts

Qualifications

• Willingness to complete a professional qualification.
• Flexibility and adaptability to learning and working conditions.
• Committed to contributing and growing within the firm.

Responsibilities

• Work with various clients gaining exposure to different industries.
• Conduct real audits and verify financial accuracy.
• Analyze financial statements and internal controls.
• Utilize data and technology to support findings.
• Engage in continuous learning and professional growth.

Skills

Curiosity

Problem-solving

Effective communication

Collaboration

Self-leadership

Job description

Overview

Real responsibility. Real impact. Right from the start. Auditors are investigators, problem-solvers, and trusted advisers. They dive deep into how businesses operate, ensuring the numbers tell the real story, and helping organisations stay on track. At Grant Thornton, we're looking for actively curious, purposefully driven, and candid but kind individuals who want to shape the future of business - not follow it. Our five-year audit school leaver programme is your launchpad to a meaningful career, a professional qualification, and a chance to make a real impact on UK businesses. What you’ll do

Responsibilities

• Work with a variety of clients, from household names to innovative start-ups, gaining exposure to different industries and challenges.
• Get hands-on with real audits, visiting client sites, attending stock counts, and carrying out testing that helps verify financial accuracy and uncover risks.
• Understand how businesses work by analysing financial statements, reviewing internal controls, and learning how companies manage money, risk, and operations.
• Use data and technology to spot trends, identify anomalies, and support your findings.
• Keep learning and growing by staying up to date with regulations, developing your professional judgement, and building relationships with mentors and experts across the firm.
• Study with support, with dedicated time to study and a team behind you as you work towards your CFAB and ACA qualifications.

Who we\'re looking for

• We\'ve got a flexible 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.
• Curious minds who explore ideas and ask thoughtful questions.
• Innovative problem solvers who think creatively, spot patterns, and turn data into meaningful insights.
• Collaborative partners who work respectfully and build trust with others.
• Effective communicators who listen, adapt, and express ideas clearly.
• Self-leaders who manage and flex their time, mindset, and energy effectively.
• Career-minded contributors who take initiative and are motivated to grow.

What you\'ll get

• Kickstart your career with a structured five-year programme designed to give you real-world experience from day one.
• The UK member firms of Grant Thornton are part of a global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 76,000 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.
• Fully funded professional qualification, including paid study leave, expert tuition, and all course fees covered.
• Technology to support your learning and client work.
• Dedicated support network, from experienced managers and mentors to college tutors who\'ll guide you every step of the way.
• Our approach to how we work helps you balance life, learning, and work.
• Exclusive discounts on shopping, gyms, and wellbeing services.
• Opportunities to give back through mentoring, volunteering, or fundraising initiatives.
• Competitive salary and benefits package, including: extra holiday options (including flexible bank holidays and the option to purchase additional holidays), life assurance, private medical insurance.

What we expect from you

As part of your training with us, you\'ll be provided with study leave to support you with completing your professional qualification. Completing a professional qualification is a substantial commitment and it\'s worth taking this into consideration before applying, as you will be required to study in your spare time outside of your working hours. You\'ll also be provided with study leave in the run up to your exams. You\'ll need to be focused, committed, and organise your time well to balance all the requirements of being a trainee.

Join the firm that\'s shaping the accountants of the future. We\'re growing fast, and we want you to grow with us. With digital-first innovation and an inclusive culture that powers progress, this is your chance to shape what\'s next. This isn\'t just a school leave programme. It\'s the start of something bigger.