Assurance Assistant Senior Review

I work in Audit and Assurance as an Assurance Assistant Senior. My day to day role changes based on the client I am working on. It can involve leading an audit and coaching any associates on my team and interacting with the client directly. It can also involve testing the higher risk areas on bigger engagements.

Since joining I have been able to develop and use my knowledge already gained through an accounting a-level and AAT level 3 in real life situations. I have also increased my knowledge on the industry through completing my ICAEW CFAB and working towards my ACA. I have also expanded my excel skills and gained new audit specific knowledge through the EY internal tools.

I enjoy the variety of clients I am exposed to. With nearly every engagement being different from the rest - this is more enjoyable to me than my work being constant and routine. I am also more exposed to higher responsibility than I would be in a general accounting role which makes the job more interesting. I also have a lot more freedom and flexibility with work than a normal desk job - as long as the work get's done I am free to be flexible in my working style/time. The travelling can be an upside and a downside depending on where I am travelling and potentially how long I am living in hotels.

The management team do verbally give feedback on jobs and thank the team which shows we are valued. On the majority of my teams after the audit is complete we do go for a team event/activity/meal which is paid for by the partner. EY as a firm do provide bonuses most years if we have performed on target - and there are extra performance bonuses available. Although there is some lack in value felt by the school leavers as our pay is much lower than a graduate compared with our experience - in our 3rd year we are leading jobs (expectations the same as graduates from our intake) but are paid minimally above a first year graduate.

With my intake being the second year of the school leaver programme in my office, the structure was unknown by most and there are still some days that I have felt we are being treated as the "guinea pig" year to see how we progress. However from day one we were given the exam structure throughout the years and we have moved up in roles similar to the graduate intake that joined with us.

During my CFAB and now working towards my ACA my training provider is Kaplan Financial. Kaplan will send out the study material - including the ICAEW study manuals and question banks as well as their own integrated workbook which summarises the ICAEW study manual content - in advance of the college dates. The tutors also make themselves available before and after the college days as well as in between college dates and the exams.

EY aims to book exams in the quieter periods of the year to allow for flexibility in work/study balance. Although for retakes they are willing to work with you to get time off and book resits anytime of year - although this depends on the managers on the jobs you are booked to, experiences vary. Also during periods where you are working but studying in the evenings the managers do take this into consideration, as long as they are informed beforehand, and you can work with them on your work allocation to better suit your studying needs.

Package wise EY is good - expenses are available to more than cover petrol expenses and travel needs (hotels, food, etc.). There are also a number of flexible benefits available incl. cycle to work schemes and dental insurance. Salary wise as an apprentice it is hard to meet our costs in the first few years as rent and living expense are high.

EY is very good at offering opportunities outside of work. From the multiple EY sports teams subsidised by partners in the office to our social budget that subsidises events such as cricket/ruby matches and theatre tickets and performances. EY also makes available CSR which allows employees to volunteer for charities etc.

Yes

The EY School Leaver Programme is a great way to gain your Chartered Accountancy whilst gaining the experience. It is a great alternative to university and looks good when applying to different firms in the future. There is also many opportunities within EY after qualifying which can be explored through secondments during your time with EY.

It is important to complete research into the company and the specific role you are applying to so that you are sure it is a good fit for you - as five years is a long time to commit to if this is not what you want to do. Take part in experience days to show your interest and to learn more about the company. Be yourself during the interviews, if you and the interviewer get along well it probably means you are a good fit for the company.