Associate, Corporate Finance Advisory Review

I really enjoyed my work placement in the London Corporate Finance Advisory team at Grant Thornton. Although challenging at times, I had the opportunity to work on a number of exciting projects, and gained direct exposure to growing firms across a range of industries, including casual dining and technology.

I felt extremely valued by my colleagues throughout the placement. At Grant Thornton, you are not treated as an 'intern' or 'placement student', but rather a full-fledged and integrated member of the team. You are always encouraged to attend key client meetings and contribute to important project deliverables.

Working in a fast-paced, unpredictable environment can make it difficult for managers and supervisors to devote time to learning and development. However, a unique culture of openness and approachability at the firm meant that I felt comfortable seeking help when I needed it. I also harnessed a number of workshops at Bradenham Manor, Grant Thornton's renowned training facility.

I was very busy on a daily basis and often worked beyond my contracted hours - a product of the project-based, deadline-driven nature of the work. However, I was still able to maintain a decent work-life balance, attending the gym and meeting up with friends.

Over time, I was awarded an enormous level of responsibility in the Corporate Finance team, as I continued to learn from others and prove my worth. For example, I often held sole responsibility for producing teasers and information memorandums, as well as pitches and valuation documents.

I cannot recommend the placement scheme at Grant Thornton highly enough, and feel that I am now well-equipped to tackle both my final year and working life beyond university. The key skills I have derived are organisation, communication, and a keen eye-for-detail, and I can't wait to put these into practice.

As expected, the general atmosphere in the office differs depending on team and department. However, the Corporate Finance team embraced a 'work hard, play hard' philosophy, with an emphasis on delivering results but also celebrating success.

From the application process, all the way through to the end-of-placement presentation, the overall work placement was professional, carefully thought-out and well-organised.

Grant Thornton invest heavily in personal training and development, and offer regular workshops and courses both in-office and at Bradenham, the firm's unique training facility. Highlights for me included the Private Equity and Valuations workshops, which were delivered by industry leaders.

Future employment prospects within the organisation are very attractive. Having completed the placement, I received an offer to join the firm's Rotational Advisory graduate programme.

I have formed many friendships with placement students from different departments as well as my own. However, I would have liked to have seen more placement socials throughout the year.

London is as expensive as you want it to be. My advice would be to find shared accommodation (ideally with mates from uni) in areas such as Brixton, Stockwell or Battersea, and bring in lunch from home (not always easy when there's such great options nearby...)

Whatever you're into, there is something for everyone in London! My office was based in Finsbury Square near Moorgate, so we often went for after-work drinks in Old Street and Shoreditch.

I got involved in a range of opportunities outside of the day-to-day. This included 5-a-side football against other firms, the annual Corporate Finance ski trip, as well as a scheme called Access Accountancy, which provided accountancy workshops and opportunities for inner-city secondary school students.