Grant Thornton

AtticusFinch86

Posted in a thread about this but got no response, so here's hoping I fare better here.

I got a call yesterday asking me to go for an interview this Saturday for a position in Corporate Auditing. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with GT that they might be able to share with me? What type of questions might I expect to be asked? Are there any particularly tricky questions to prepare for? Thanks.

Dellboy2007

I did an interview for them last year and have close friends working there.

The interview was like a good cop - bad cop scenario, with one younger manager seemingly more interested in making me look bad and trying to impress the older partner. I was asked the usual laid back general questions about did I like my college course, where I’m from etc. I was also asked one or two more sticky ones about the type of controls found in the place where I had worked, as well as how Ireland could get out of the recession. I would imagine having some kind of an opinion on the recent budget could do you no harm.

I will be frank with you though, GT seems like a god awful place to work. They treat their employees like absolute **** and it’s not unheard of for trainees to leave before finishing out their contract. I even heard of one case of someone leaving before the 3.5 years although they had all their exams passed! Also, the way they operate their pay scale is an absolute joke. Unlike other places where you basically work on an average performance and still get the pay rise, in GT you have to hit certain markers (which there are loads). These then have to be signed off on by a manager for each and every one. You are at their mercy whether they sign it then or not. I have heard that there are trainees there with their FAE’s who are only on €25k. Probably why they leave.

Look I know a job is a job and they are, on paper, a reputable firm, but ask yourself if you have the type of mentality that could work through all that. I’m in one of the other bigger firms and the difference is unbelievable. He used to tell me things and I would be in shock, saying to myself “that would never happen in my place”.

I’d honestly even go for EY before I’d go near GT and that’s with EY not having TOIL and 44 hour mandatory weeks.

April O Neill

44 hours a week doesn't seem that bad!

Dellboy2007

Depends what you're used to I suppose. I prefer the 36 hour weeks myself. That's in audit as well.

SHANAbert

GT Limerick was a great place to work. Great bunch of lads and the staff were treated very well.

Interview like any other, show them you are capable and a hard worker!

April O Neill

Dellboy2007 wrote: »

Depends what you're used to I suppose. I prefer the 36 hour weeks myself. That's in audit as well.

36 hours per week = 7 odd hours a day. I'm not doubting you at all, but I'd most places have longer hours than that.

Dellboy2007

Sorry, I should have been more pedantic, it's 36.25 hours and zero seconds.

Not too bothered if you believe me or not April. Why i'd come on here and waste my time typing this out if I was lying is beyond me though.

April O Neill

Dellboy2007 wrote: »

Not too bothered if you believe me or not April.

What part of "I don't doubt you at all" did you not understand? I thought I made it clear that I DO believe you. Jays.

imtdub

I don't work in a big 4 firm, actually I don't even work in this sector. I work in a industry and GT are our auditors. The junior folks used to work from 9 to 5.30 and then they've to go to the head office for meeting/reporting. I was told, sometimes it would be 8/9 before they finished. We got the same folks for a few years and they told us it's one of the crappiest places to work and they're not going to renew their contract's. I think it's only because it looks great on the CV people join them. Even my Boss who is used to work for a big firm, says he never liked working for them. Also it's always Junior's mistake when they sweep something under the carpet when it is found out later.

You're much more valued in a small firm.

PS: sorry OP for scaring you.

AtticusFinch86

Thanks, appreciate the replies. Can't say I'm just as excited by the prospect of the job now. I'm hoping for a call for an interview from a couple of other firms, including 3 of the big 4 but so far that's the only interview on the table so I'll be going to it. Could use the interview experience if nothing else.

April O Neill

AtticusFinch86 wrote: »

Thanks, appreciate the replies. Can't say I'm just as excited by the prospect of the job now. I'm hoping for a call for an interview from a couple of other firms, including 3 of the big 4 but so far that's the only interview on the table so I'll be going to it. Could use the interview experience if nothing else.

Oh, definitely go. It might give you options, and the experience will be very useful.

barneystinson

April O Neill wrote: »

36 hours per week = 7 odd hours a day. I'm not doubting you at all, but I'd most places have longer hours than that.

9 - 5.30 (minus an hour for lunch) is a 37.5 hour week. I think you're confusing gross attendance with net hours worked (ie the number of hours the firm charges out for your time!), which is what the other poster is talking about.

April O Neill

barneystinson wrote: »

9 - 5.30 (minus an hour for lunch) is a 37.5 hour week. I think you're confusing gross attendance with net hours worked (ie the number of hours the firm charges out for your time!), which is what the other poster is talking about.

No, I know a 37 hour week excludes lunch hours.