Audit/accounts apprentice Review

My job is audit/accounts apprentice - day to day I will be working on mainly accounts preparation for a range of clients. I will have to opportunity to interact directly with clients to find out their needs and action them appropriately. I stay mainly in the office in my role but do have the opportunity to travel to clients, some of which are stay-away jobs.

The qualifications are completing the Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB) which is an ICAEW certificate and then going on to study for the ACA for Chartered status. We also have great internal training courses which are based in offices around the country to help improve our skills in our audit/accounts roles everyday and to help us keep up with technical and regulatory knowledge. I've also learnt how to form solid relationships with clients, be confident in myself and my knowledge of my work and help suggest new ideas to colleagues for projects. The whole programme so far has really boosted my confidence and maturity as a person!

The work is so varied, I'm never doing the same thing day to day. I have also undertaken secondments to other departments in the firm which has really broadened my knowledge and helped me make friends across the firm. The teams we work in are fun, there are lots of other students so the social aspect is great! There are firm wide social events too (football tournaments in Amsterdam for example!) which is a great opportunity to network. The company culture is so relaxed, supportive and friendly, and you know you can go to anyone with a question and not feel embarrassed as they will be willing to help. Overall, the company has completely exceeded my expectations when going into the job and I really enjoy my placement in most aspects day to day.

The firm is really supportive and willing to help in any way that we need. The managers are good at listening to any concerns we have, especially in completing our exams - we are very free to choose when we want to sit exams and how to study. Internally, we get good feedback from jobs and in my office, have bi annual reviews of our progress and quarterly 'catch up chats' with a manager of our choice where we can air any issues in confidence and receive feedback. I definitely feel valued by the firm - if you are prepared to put the work in you get a lot back in terms of recognition.

The programme is very structured in terms of completing the portfolio CFAB in two years and the rest of the ACA exams in 3. As an apprentice I have a dedicated Kaplan assessor to mentor me through my portfolio and help me complete aspects of it on time and around my exams. We have training courses twice a year internally to improve our technical knowledge, and if we feel we need further training this can be brought up in our 'catch up chats'. There is a specific hierarchy as we move up in our programme/the firm in terms of job delegation and pay rises.

We have our delegated supervisor in Kaplan who we contact in terms of apprenticeship and we have regular contact calls/meetings with her to keep up to date with our portfolio. The Kaplan tutors exams wise are really helpful, in depth and are always contactable via email if we have any issues.

The firm are very supportive and if you need any help you just need to ask. The HR team are prompt at sorting out issues that arise, for example sorting references for letting agents/sorting eye test vouchers. The firm also has a really positive and supportive attitude to supporting mental health issues and will let you take time off for appointments if you need them.

I don't live in the city I work in but I find it easy to budget my money to cover living costs. I rent by myself and cover all my travel (train) costs myself. The locations of the offices are great in terms of transport so if you want to live out of the cities for cheaper living costs its really easy to do so.

There are lots of opportunities outside of work for social events. The teams are very sociable and will often go for drinks/dinner after work, they organise sports fixtures (football tournament in Amsterdam!) etc. Locally, there is a lot going on in terms of sports clubs, bars, restaurants, bands/orchestras so its really easy to find things to do that suit you.

Yes

It has such a nice company ethos, its so sociable and the work is varied and good fun. There is so much scope to meet new people and network .

The application process is online testing, an assessment day and an interview. I think just prepare as you would for any interview, learn about the company, the job role, the sectors in the office you are applying for Think about what makes you stand out and makes you different - don't be too overbearing and self absorbed but be confident. Also brush up on a few current affairs - have things to talk about and make them know you are commercially aware and eager to learn things. Have an opinion!