Tax advisor Review

The role is a corporate tax adviser working in the private middle market for both private and listed companies / groups. This includes tax compliance, advisory and tax accounting / auditing. Client handling and engagement management is also another part of the job due to increased ownership of client work throughout the programme.

Yes. I have learnt client management skills through extensive project management and also tax technical and accounting technical knowledge as a result of training and CPD. I would say that my interpersonal skills have also developed as i work alongside just short of 50 colleagues in the team and therefore have many formal encounters but also social encounters - thus furthering these skills.

I very much enjoy the programme as there is a wide range of activities and engagements that i participate in on a day-to-day basis, and no one day is the same. There is also opportunity to participate in client secondments and secondments to other teams within the Firm (EY) and therefore i am able to get a taste of various different roles and teams within the firm - which i enjoy!

I would say that the firm make an extensive effort to recognize and reward staff, usually by way of the annual / quarterly review process. There is a reward process with respect to individual outstanding performance referred to as impact awards which have financial rewards as well as showing appreciation for staff, which are often handed out by managers and above, which are very nice to receive and shows that your work and efforts have been valued.

The programme is 5 years long, which i do not believe is the best structure given that exams are stretched over 5 years as opposed to 3 years. I have completed my chargeable days (time qualified) but still have 3 / 15 exams remaining, which i believe shows that the programme is too long. I feel i have enough professional experience after 3 years in the programme to close out the qualification and take on more responsibility / become a senior tax advisor.

Kaplan provide much support by way of technical guidance and professional guidance, however there is little communication from them when students are not in 'exam season' or 'study season'. In other words, due to the programme length of five years, there are sometimes up to 9 months where no exams or study time is sat, and in this time you do not often hear from Kaplan at all. However, when we are at college / in exam season their support is very good!

Our employer provides support throughout the entire programme mainly with regards to technical training in respect of our individual specific service lines requirements and the technical skills required to further out specific knowledge. There are also CPD events and general training sessios we are able to attend but not specifically related to our training course or the topical areas in our training programme, which would be very useful and could be improved!

The salary packet offered to school leavers is lower than that offered to graduates on the same training programme, even though the same exams, qualifications and technical client work and engagements are completed. Given that both grads and school leavers both commute the same commute, have the same living expenses and generally live in london, whilst completing the same course and technical client work, this is unfair. The difference in salary is approximately £8k for the first year and £4.5k in the second year. This being said i have never been 'short' of money however this is due to budgetting, my colleagues have been in situations where they are short of income and this is regular.

There are many opportunities such as getting involved in the EY 'clubs' and social teams / sports teams. I play basketball with the firm and often attend training sessions once a week, which are paid for a put on by the firm - this is very useful. These events are great to get to know people and sometimes clients. There are social events and opportunities in a social aspect that are put on and paid for by the firm which are great, such as bowling, darts etc.

Yes

EY has helped me develop both professionally and personally, both in the workplace and more generally in day-to-life. They have a strong push of D & I (being Diversity and Inclusivity) in the workplace and ensure that everyone feels comfortable being themselves. It is clear to me that EY and in particular the directors / partners that i have worked with take an interest in developing their staff and helping them through their desired career paths. This is important to me as i see my time at EY as a career and not purely a 'job'. There is also great eprsonal support if you are going through difficult times outside of work or have health issues etc. The Counsellor / counsellee programme is great and personally my counsellor is a huge reason that i hold the firm so highly.

Quite simply to be yourself. It is important that you are comfortable to do so and i believe there is no better place than EY. They do value individual's and their difference which is important to me. I would advise that they review the different programmes available (as there is broader range than when i first joined, such as opportunities in technology transformation) which appear to be trying to 'future proof' the career path in accountancy.