Assistant Associate Review

I am an assistant associate in Insurance Audit, part of the Financial Services group. What I do on a day to day basis varies based on what time of the year it is. When I first started last September, I did quite a few Walkthroughs and controls based work, which involved sitting down with clients and gaining an understanding of their role. I also started on a some basic testing which was just picking a sample and tracing to supporting documentation and making enquiries of the client. In January, we have a time called 'busy season' which as the name suggests is my department's busiest time of the year. As it was my first busy season, I didn't really know what to expect but it to be honest it wasn't too bad. Unsurprisingly the hours are long, but the whole team is working those hours and most of the time they're supportive and happy to help with any queries. I've been on a couple of away jobs which is where you stay in a hotel for most of the week when your client is based outside of London, which I quite like especially in busy season, depending on the team you are with sometimes you all go out for dinner to a restaurant together or just get a take away or room service (Nando's is always popular!) Busy season ends in March and by that time the bulk of the major audit work is done and the work changes, by April/May I was mainly auditing financial statements. There have been odd days where I haven't been allocated to an engagement team and so I've spent a few days doing stuff like research for a non-audit projects and other various bits and pieces but mainly it's audit work that I do. I like doing recruitment events so I've gotten involved with a few of those, mainly in September to December due to the nature of my work. I think managers are quite cool about people doing things like that as long as you give reasonable notice and get all your work done in the allocated time.

Mainly soft skills you pick up on the way, how to approach clients and writing emails and chaser emails. I've also picked up some Excel skills and I cannot begin to explain how useful the VLOOKUP, SUMIF and IF functions are but I'm by no means an excel expert.

I like my job, it get's stressful at times especially around busy seasons and exams though. Admittedly, it can get tedious at times when you have to do the same things over and over again, but also it's a good learning curve as no two clients are the same.

This is a tricky one since especially around busy season everyone is busy and the long hours take its toll, so it's hard to feel appreciated, admittedly managers do take the time to tell the team to keep up the hard work but it's hard to feel valued when you everyone is working hours although everyone's in it together. When the accounts are signed off most of the reasonable sized audits will have an audit meal, where the team enjoys a meal in a restaurant together and then normally goes or drinks. Also during busy season, every month we have a busy season social, an event arranged by the social team, so the department has opportunity just to let their hair down and have fun.

I would say it's fairly well organised, we spend the first couple of weeks training, then at college and then working. During busy season there are no exams or college but pretty much straight after we attend college/ webinars for our 3rd exam and after that it's straight onto revising for 4th and 5th. So in April I had online college/ webinar, did the relevant exam at the beginning of May then pretty much straight away I started revising for my next 2 exams which I sat today (early June). After these 2 I should get a month free from college and exams and then I should be back in college at the beginning of July for the final exam of the ICAEW ACA Certificate level which I should take in August. I would prefer it if we had some time between the end busy season and exams where we could de-stress but I do appreciate that busy season finishes at different times for different people.

I think Kaplan, our training providers are quite good, they provide us with numerous online resources, they even have an app so you can revise easily on the go. The tutors all seem to know what they are talking about and all the tutors I've had so far have worked in professional services at some point. The only thing I'd say is that there are a couple of self study modules which you are pretty much left to your own devices for

We get given lots of training throughout the year from training on soft skills, to Excel skills and Industry specific training. For general support and guidance, we get allocated an appraiser who is the person you go to with any issues. Personally, I think mine is very helpful and understanding and just generally a nice person who I feel comfortable going to with any problems I'm having. Exam wise, everyone has been there, so when you are revising for exams, no one has any issues with you leaving at 17.30, in fact you are encouraged to do so.

For someone starting out in the world of work, the salary is pretty good. I live at home with my parents so no issues meeting my costs. Admittedly at times it doesn't seem enough especially during busy season with the hours you are putting in but it is in fact a fairly decent salary.

There are quite a few things you can get involved in within the department. I joined the social team in my first few weeks and helped organise a pub quiz. There's also quite a few Brightstart/ graduate recruitment events to get involved in, it's just a case of emailing the right people. There's also various sports teams and societies to get involved in if that's what floats your boat.

Yes

Deloitte is a great employer and will get your career off to a great start, whether you are in Audit & Risk Advisory, Tax, Consulting or Corporate Finance, the people are great. You are not babied, you are treated like any other employee. The qualification you do, whichever the department is recognised around the world and it's a great place to begin your journey into the world of work.

Draft and re-draft your application question answers and have someone read over them before you submit. Practise before doing the psychometric tests (you can find lots online). Just be yourself, don't be too nervous at the interviews, remember the STAR Principle (Situation, Task, Action, Result), think carefully about the service line you want to be in. Partners are just people (and generally very nice people at that) so don't fret too much about that and remember if you get to the Partner interview stage they must see some potential in you.