In the autumn of 2024, Noura Charaf joined the Grant Thornton team in Brussels. As a Senior VAT Advisor, she balances compliance tasks with advisory work in a lively group that smoothly combines hard work, continuous learning and fun. Whichever way her career path will turn, this hobby horse rider receives all the guidance to saddle up and develop the skills she needs to succeed.
“I first heard about Grant Thornton when I was still working at a Big Four accounting firm. One of my colleagues there had interviewed at Grant Thornton and spoke highly of the friendly atmosphere there. That intrigued me, so I applied as soon as a VAT position opened up. During the interview process, I immediately felt that Grant Thornton valued me as a person rather than ‘just another employee’. They wanted to work with me, not just make me work. That personal approach made my decision easy.”
“The first weeks were busy, but I never felt overwhelmed. My colleagues were all so supportive. From the beginning, I was included in client projects, which enabled me to apply my experience right away. The company also organised a welcome lunch for newcomers, which helped me get to know my colleagues and feel like a part of the team very quickly.
I feel truly appreciated at every level of the organisation – it’s not hierarchical at all, and I can easily collaborate with everyone, from juniors to partners.”
Noura: “It’s a very interesting mix. This week is rather compliance-heavy and routine-based, since we have tax filings due by the end of the week.
Next week, though, I’ll focus more on advisory work and give a presentation, which pushes me outside of my comfort zone – and I love it! We all work hard here, but we also to keep things enjoyable. Managers always ask if we have time before they assign new tasks. ‘No’ is always a possible answer.”
“Where do I begin? I’ll be attending a training in Frankfurt soon, and we also have monthly knowledge meetings where we discuss the latest industry updates. For those, some of us prepare presentations to share insights with the team. Grant Thornton really makes sure that we never stop learning. It’s a vital part of the job.”
Noura: “Unlike the high-pressure atmosphere of large firms, Grant Thornton allows you to develop your skills at your own pace, while you can still work on international clients and high-level projects.
So, as a newcomer, you should definitely take your time to settle in and not feel pressured to know everything from day one. Your colleagues are always willing to listen and help you find a solution.”