Auditor Review

I work in audit, this means each day is different. I work with a number of different companies and verify the material figures in their financial statements. I spend most of time in our clients offices, which ensure a constant changing working environment. I also work with different teams on client, this allows a good opportunity to learn different working approaches and also ensures networking in the office.

As I said before, working with many different colleagues means you need to be adaptable to deal with everyone's individual working approach. I have also developed by professionalism when I am speaking to clients and working in their offices. I'm definitely growing in confidence with the job and my colleagues, this in turn is making my work more enjoyable and relaxing.

I thoroughly enjoy my work - I have worked on a number of different clients and travelled to a number of different places including London, Wales and Exeter. It's always a suprose on the Monday when you are visiting the clients site for the first time. Most of time the offices are modern, open and friendly. However, a number of times we have been given our 'office' in their store cupboard.

I feel well valued by everyone at EY. Everyone I have worked with are welcoming and always ensure I feel I have the relevant knowledge and support for all my client work. I have started networking with most of the office and now I feel I am definitely become recognised and well known in the team.

The school leaver programme is well structured. In our first week we had an induction week held in London, this was an organised event which allowed all the school leavers, from both the London and the regional offices, to network and introduce themselves. Since then, we have given a number of opportunities to meet the school leavers from the other offices at both training and college.

We attend college at Kaplan. I feel they are very supportive. All the tutors are approachable and definitely not judgemental about your little previous knowledge. They offer you their contact details which allows you to contact them between the period of attending college and when you take your exam.

EY offer a good support network. When you join you are assigned both a buddy and a counsellor. Your buddy is your 'go-to' person, and there for any questions which may have in your initial few weeks. Your counsellor will stay with you throughout your careers at EY, they will help you with your feedback and improvement which you should make.

The salary which a school leaver will start on will depend on their office location and the distance from London. I am able to budget within my salary including transport, food and bills. However, I am not able to start saving. Your salary does increase fairly rapidly throughout your time on the school leaver programme.

Moving to city means there's always opportunities to join clubs and networks. You need to be proactive and confident to make the first steps, introduce yourself and turn up at the events. Everyone is welcoming and eager for you to participate so my advice is to try everything and see what you like. The one problem is limited time when you are working 9-5:30.

Yes

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the firm so far - I am unable to say whether it's better than uni as I haven't experienced it. However, I personally have no regets and definitely feel I made the right decision for me. I definitely don't feel at any disadvantage not holding a degree - instead, I am becoming a qualified accountant without the debt!

Give it a go! I applied for everything including university. It's best if you hold the cards. The application process gives you a good insight into the firm, and trust me once you have been to the London office you will be hooked... The office is something else - completely different to anything I had previously experienced.