Why ag graduates are hot property in tax

Financial advisory company Grant Thornton hired its first agricultural science student in June 2012 as part of its summer internship programme. It found that the agriculture students integrated so well, particularly in the tax department, that the company has since hired 18 ag graduates.

“The agriculture students have a great work ethic, are willing to work the hours necessary for any job to be completed and also possess a problem-solving and commonsense approach which is seldom seen,” said Bernard Doherty, head of tax and legal at Grant Thornton.

I come from an agricultural background in Co Monaghan which I feel has shaped my career in both tax and professional services

Those who completed the summer internships were offered full-time training contracts as part of the three-year graduate programme at Grant Thornton, which includes professional accountancy training with Chartered Accountants Ireland.

“I come from an agricultural background in Co Monaghan which I feel has shaped my career in both tax and professional services. I found that there were numerous transferable skills between the two contrasting industries,” Doherty says.

The company now provides a lecture to the fourth-year food and agribusiness management students at UCD

“If you take a step back and look at it objectively, on a farm you have little to no supervision, you have to be able to work on your own initiative, you are responsible for the welfare of others. There is no shirking of responsibility, you cannot put off certain jobs to another day. If the agriculture graduates could apply even half of this to their professional work then it is worth the risk, and so far it has paid off.”

The company now provides a lecture to the fourth-year food and agribusiness management students at UCD on the applications of the Irish taxation system at farm level. The module includes income tax computations, capital allowances, stock relief, capital gains tax and exemptions, stamp duty, capital acquisitions tax, VAT and the advantages and disadvantages of farm incorporation.

Grant Thornton is in the process of interviewing over 2,000 applicants for its 2020 graduate programme. However, Doherty says the company is “always willing to take on more graduates if we think they will add value to our business”.

Any student who wishes to apply should forward their CV to William Coffey, student liaison officer in the taxation department: william.coffey @ie.gt.com.

Alternatively, you can apply for both the undergraduate and graduate programmes here.

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