Tax Graduate Programme (Autumn 2027) - Manchester

Grant Thornton (UK); Manchester; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance

Income protection

Private medical cover

Pension

Shopping gateway for discounts

Bike4work scheme

Additional health benefits

Mortgage and financial advice

Flexible bank holidays

Job summary

Grant Thornton UK LLP is recruiting graduates for a tax-focused pathway designed to accelerate your career from the start. You will be supported to pursue a fully-funded professional qualification, with paid study leave and expert tuition from day one.

You’ll gain international exposure, work on real client data, and interact with senior leaders as you develop your skills on a structured purple-path like program.

Qualifications

• You will study for a relevant professional qualification (ACA, ICAS, CFAB, ATT, CTA, ACCA, CIMA or DTS) alongside work.
• Develop technical tax knowledge across diverse client ranges and specialisms.
• Build broad knowledge across the tax service line while gaining real client exposure.

Responsibilities

• Work with a variety of clients, from household names to start-ups.
• Build strong client relationships and understand how businesses operate.
• Research technical positions and apply current tax rules to real client data.
• Tackle real problems by working out how tax rules apply to transactions and scenarios.
• Help clients navigate change with confidence and insight.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Digital tools

Client relationship skills

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

ACA/ICAS/CFAB/ATT/CTA/ACCA/CIMA/DTS

Job description

Job Description: Go one better than Four

The industry is set to change. It's time to get with a new kind of programme. One that leaves traditional graduate schemes behind. From the off, you'll see a future you want to stay for. Because we don't just recruit exceptional graduate talent. We turn trainees into leaders. We're talking bigger opportunities, faster growth, and an experience designed to accelerate your career from the start.

Take the purple path

What investing in talent actually looks like

• A market-leading salary of £34,250 and full benefits package
• A milestone bonus of £5,000 (50% paid upon joining and 50% paid upon successful completion of your professional qualification) to support you as you take your first step on the purple path
• A fully-funded professional qualification, including paid study leave, expert tuition, and all course fees covered
• A named Partner sponsor from day one to support you grow in your career
• International exposure, helping you build a global perspective early in your career
• Access to the latest leading AI tools and digital solutions from day one, building skills that will shape the future of your career
• Meaningful client interaction outside of the day-to-day - understanding how businesses operate and driving results which matter
• Structured learning built around the capabilities of a future Partner - taking you beyond the technical
• In-person experiences with your cohort of future leaders. One pathway, one cohort, and a network for life
• Access to additional opportunities as you reach your potential - from working with our Senior Leadership Team to shaping new initiatives
• Business Development responsibilities before you even qualify.

A look into the role

Tax is about helping people and organisations navigate one of the most complex legislative landscapes. As a tax professional, you'll advise on the application of the law, identify risks and pursue opportunities, and make sure your client remains compliant with ever-changing rules - work that companies, individuals, public bodies, and the wider economy all rely on. Gaining experience across multiple tax teams, you'll gain real exposure to a wide range of clients and specialisms, building a broad knowledge base across the service line.

As a tax professional you will:

• Work with a variety of clients, from household names to innovative start-ups.
• Build strong client relationships, understand how each business and their owners operate and develop your technical expertise in tax
• Work hands-on from day one: digging into real client data, researching technical positions, and working out the right answer under current tax rules.
• Tackle real problems, working out how tax rules apply to different transactions and scenarios and helping clients navigate change with confidence.
• Understand how businesses and their owners really do business - exploring how they structure their affairs and how tax shapes decisions around investment, people, strategy, risk, and growth.
• Study for a relevant professional qualification (typically ACA, ICAS, CFAB, ATT, CTA, ACCA, CIMA or DTS) which will complement your technical knowledge, and prepare you for future career success

Get to know our Head of Tax, Hazel Platt here

Who we're looking for

We're looking for people who bring:

• Commercial curiosity - genuine interest in our clients' businesses and an eye for spotting opportunities to add value, from the start.
• A digital explorer's mindset - curiosity for digital tools and data, and a drive to find smarter solutions early on.
• Adaptability - embracing change, asking good questions, and picking things up quickly when thrown in at the deep end.
• Strong problem-solving skills - critical thinking, sound judgement, and attention to detail from your first live piece of work.
• Collaborative communication - listening well, adapting your approach, and building trust with clients and colleagues alike.
• A proactive approach to your career - taking ownership of your growth and seeking out opportunities rather than waiting for them to come to you.

We've got a flexible approach to academic entry requirements, and we'll consider these alongside your strengths and motivations. We're growing fast, and we want you to grow with us. With digital-first innovation and a firm that's investing in its future leaders, this is your chance to shape what's next. Follow the purple path. It's the start of something bigger.

Our reward and benefits

Besides a competitive salary, 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. Our range of voluntary benefits allows to you to make choices that are right for you. Whether that’s a pension, making use of the shopping gateway for discounts, using the bike4work scheme or additional health benefits or accessing mortgage and financial advice, you can choose the benefits that work for you.

• 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
• pension
• shopping gateway for discounts
• bike4work scheme
• additional health benefits
• accessing mortgage and financial advice
• You are also able to choose when you take your bank holidays throughout the year.

We want to support our people in celebrating holidays and occasions that are important to their religion, ethnicity, culture heritage or other parts of their identity and this is just one way we do this.