Interim Quantum / Cryptography Specialist
Requirements
Candidates should have a cryptography background and experience building or advising on post-quantum cryptography migration roadmaps. They should understand emerging standards such as NIST PQC and CNSA 2.0, communicate technical topics to senior stakeholders, and ideally have a relevant certification or academic background; NCSC or industry quantum-readiness experience is a strong plus.
Job Description
At Grant Thornton we’re building something bold. We’re doing things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity. Our journey from great to exceptional is well underway. With significant investment behind us and a clear strategy for growth, there’s real momentum.
Our Agile Talent Community (ATC) brings together experienced contract professionals who want choice without losing connection. You work where you add the most value, alongside teams who treat you as a partner rather than a placeholder.
Assignment Description:
Interim Quantum / Cryptography Specialist
(UK wide, Hybrid-working)
Grant Thornton's Cyber Advisory team is rebuilding and growing its talent pool to support a strengthening pipeline of client work spanning cyber maturity assessments, governance and controls, third-party risk and emerging technology advisory. We're looking for experienced cyber professionals to join our Agile Talent Community and deliver Grant Thornton-led advisory engagements for clients across financial services and beyond.
If you're a cryptography specialist with a genuine quantum-readiness background, you'll help our clients understand where current cryptographic standards break down under quantum computing and advise on their post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration roadmap — from crypto inventory and discovery through prioritisation and transition planning. You'll be equally comfortable translating a highly technical subject into a board-level narrative.
Skills We Are Looking For
- Cryptography background, with a clear understanding of where current cryptographic standards break under quantum computing
- Experience building or advising on a PQC migration roadmap: crypto inventory/discovery, prioritisation and transition planning
- Able to translate a highly technical subject into a board-level narrative and plan
- Awareness of emerging standards (NIST PQC, CNSA 2.0) and vendor tooling in this space
- Relevant cryptography/security certification or academic background preferred; NCSC or industry quantum-readiness experience a strong plus
Work that moves you forward
When a project fits your skills, we’ll get in touch, but you choose whether it’s right for you. That means working on engagements that genuinely build your portfolio and expand your expertise.
The freedom of contracting without the hidden admin
You’re not left to navigate the freelance world alone. Our Agile Talent team helps you understand freelance regulation and connects you with people who broaden your thinking through our teams and clients.
Community you can actually feel
Connection shouldn’t disappear just because you’re contracting. From market insights to wellbeing sessions to networking events, you’ll be part of a community designed to make the independent path less isolated and more impactful.
Our culture and values
We have a culture where talented people thrive – where high performance is not just expected but enabled. It’s a culture built on clarity, curiosity, and care. One that challenges us to aim higher, where we’re encouraged to make the most of an abundance of resources to fuel our own development, and where we support each other to grow, learn, and succeed.
Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.
How To Join
We keep the process straightforward, because the real work happens once you’re here.
- Submit your CV and basic details through our online application.
- If there’s a match, a recruiter will reach out to discuss.
- Meet key stakeholders for a focused conversation.
- Complete your background checks, join the Agile Talent Community, and start exploring the opportunities we have to offer.
Education
Skills
About Grant Thornton UK
When choosing an advisor, you could accept the usual compromises. Alternatively, you can find people that aren’t afraid to break with the norms to provide a more rewarding experience. With people that leave you feeling smart, not smarting. The UK member firms of Grant Thornton are part of a global network that employs over 76,000 people in 150 countries. We combine global scale with local insight and understanding to give you the assurance, tax, and advisory services you need to realise your ambitions. We go beyond business as usual, so you can too. We make business more personal by investing in building relationships. Whether you’re growing in one market or many, you consistently get a great service you can trust. We work at a pace that matters – yours – bringing both flexibility and rigour. We celebrate fresh thinking and diverse perspectives to bring you proactive insights and positive progress. Ready to go beyond? Visit our website for insight on what we can offer you. © 2025 Grant Thornton UK LLP and Grant Thornton UK Advisory & Tax LLP. All rights reserved. ‘Grant Thornton’ refers to the brand under which the Grant Thornton member firms provide assurance, tax and advisory services to their clients and/or refers to one or more member firms, as the context requires. Grant Thornton UK LLP and Grant Thornton Advisory & Tax LLP are member firms of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. GTIL and each member firm is a separate legal entity. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL does not provide services to clients. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. This publication has been prepared only as a guide. No responsibility is accepted by us for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material in this publication.
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