#GradStories Caitlín Dyson, Audit Trainee at Grant Thornton

What are your main tasks in a typical week?

In a normal week, we would get information from a client like trail balances, nominal ledgers and debtors' listings. We take samples from that information and get third party documentation like invoices and bank statements to prove that what the client is saying is accurate.

What skills do you need to be successful in this role?

To be successful in the job, you need to have good communication skills, interpersonal skills and teamwork skills. Excel is also a helpful skill to have and the ability to trust yourself and your instincts.

What advice would you give to a college student?

I would encourage them to work on their teamwork skills. No matter where you work, you will always work with different people and personalities. Also work on your computer skills and excel.

How did you get into your job?

I did a history degree in Trinity, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after college. I went to a gradireland fair, and I saw the Grant Thornton stand and it looked very interesting, and they said that they accepted students from different backgrounds. I had an interest in financial services and the business side of things, so I applied and got in.

What do you love about your job?

I like the exposure to different clients and different sectors. We’re usually on a job for a few weeks or months at a time so you never get bored and you’re always learning new things. In audit you get to see how every side of business works so you get a lot of experience to go into a lot of different fields.