Grant Thornton is offering UK graduates a £40,000 starting salary and a £5,000 'golden hello' bonus to compete with the Big Four accounting firms. The move, effective from September 2027, targets the graduate hiring market where junior pay has lagged behind other sectors like law. Abigail Fisher, chief people officer at Grant Thornton, stated the firm aims to be 'number one' rather than 'number two' to the Big Four.

The Big Four typically offer between £30,000 and £36,000 in London. The increased pay is part of a strategy to attract top talent away from established brands. Grant Thornton, majority-owned by Cinven, also hired space at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium for its incoming graduates to project a 'winner mentality'.

The firm's campaign includes slogans like 'Go one better than Four'.