Grant Thornton International Reviews

Pros

I am very proud to work at GT. Employees are given alot of responsibility early on, and the training is great.

Cons

It can be tough if you get on a job working with a manager or a partner that you don't get along with, but I assume that is the same anywhere you go.

Advice to Senior Management

I would advise management to be more flexible during non-busy season and to focus on making sure the workload is spread evenly among all employees.

Pros

Great Corporate Culture
Extremely Friendly People
Constant Review Process After EVERY Engagement
Good Feedback
Less Hours than Big 4

Cons

Slight lower salary than Big 4
Less Prestige

Advice to Senior Management

Work on the Prestige. Really Sell the Marketing

Pros

Small environment where everyone knows everyone

Cons

Benefits package could be better

Advice to Senior Management

Improve the starters process - my introduction to the company was not run well.

Pros

Great team and supportive enivornment, lower turnover in the consulting group, motivated Consultants and Sr. Consultants, exceptional younger managers and leaders.

Cons

Sr. Leadership is somewhat out of touch with the staff and the clients- the success is driven by the excellence of the middle leadership, the staff, and the partners.

Director level is a position only within the consulting group which severly hampers growth, and is the largest turnover factor for experienced Sr. Consultants, Managers, and Sr. managers and many at the Director level provide very little leadership.

Advice to Senior Management

Director level is a position which hampers growth and many at this level provide very little leadership; goals and success for Directors is very poorly defined (they can get credit for everything sold and executed beneath them)- so it is difficult to actually hold them responsible- therefore many directors do not contribute as much as most Sr. managers.

Pros

Smaller clients and engagements allow you to develop a better "big picture" understanding of the audit process in a shorter period of time. Flexible schedule and decent hours (55 hr average busy season, 40 hr rest of year)

Cons

Compensation appears lower than other firms.

Advice to Senior Management

Develop an audit strategy that makes sense for smaller clients/engagements in order to compete competitively in smaller markets.

Pros

Relaxed work environment, with reasonable job security. Generally collegial environment. Good benefits programs. Management team is improving with continued additions to team.

Cons

Local practice still developing its local reputation - improving steadily but still has work to do.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus should be on competitive recruiting and salaries

Pros

Good people
Interesting work
Good career advancement

Cons

Some of the manager they hire really don't know all that much about what they do
Too much focus on sales and not relationship building

Advice to Senior Management

Forgo new internal projects to save money instead of cancelling bonuses

Pros

If you can get in the door it's an ok place to get started in the field. Like all accounting firms it is a meat grinder and you have to watch your back constantly however if you are skilled in this way you can do well there. If you are a hard worker, can learn fast and stay busy you will make it. You should also get to work on a variety of clients in different industries.

Cons

They are trying too hard to be something (big 4) that they openly want to distinguish themselves from. This say one thing do another approach seems to be everywhere. As an organization they are still struggling with their identity which means you must have your feet firmly planted and be ready to tow the company line no matter how many times or how fast it changes, and believe me it changes quickly.

Advice to Senior Management

Overall I'd say you are doing no worse or better than the big 4 firms however there is potential that is untapped in your organization and the message of why you do the work you do is often lost at the staff level. Focus on development more than billable hours and the billable hours will come.

Pros

Like any public accounting firm, this is a great place to start your accounting career. They have smaller offices than the Big 4, so it is easy to get to know everyone. They have very good national training and want to keep everyone informed.

Cons

They don't have the top tier people working for them (because the top tier usually go to the Big 4) so some of the managers are not that great or helpful to work with.

Advice to Senior Management

Managers need to focus on helping and teaching the seniors and staff. The managers are not always knowledgable or helpful.

Pros

Grant Thornton is a great firm for someone who has an interest in public accounting. The industry can be difficult with hours and workload, but at Grant Thornton there is a stress on balancing work and life. This still does not mean that the hours are not long - but in the majority of situations, the Firm will be willing to make the balance work for their employees. You still work hard and often late, but people are awarded for their efforts.

The firm has a small firm feel, with the benefits of a large firm - and a lot of opportunity for learning and growth. The industry of accounting is geared towards growth, and Grant Thornton definitely provides those opportunities through trainings, thought leadership, and by challenging their employees.

Cons

The biggest downside to Grant Thornton is benefits. Compensation is good, but compared to a lot of the benefits that I see other firms give to people of the same level, Grant Thornton's benefits are lacking.

Also, a downside that exists across the industry is long hours with no real extra compensation for hard work. Being an international firm, there is always a classic "busy season" which can entail working nights and weekends. Salaries are typically higher than other positions of a similar level in other industries, so it seems that this is factored into an employee's yearly salary, but bonuses tend to be on the small side.

Advice to Senior Management

I think that senior management of the firm are doing a good job. However, one thing that seems to be happening throughout the firm is that there is a strong emphasis on growth and international standardization of service. Part of the reason I chose Grant Thornton was for the fact that they weren't one of the Big 4 accounting firms, but it seems as if they are trying to become more and more like the Big 4. My feedback would be to stick true to the company's roots and serve the middle market, and don't try to be more than you are.