Audit Associate Review

I am an audit associate within the assurance department at EY. On a day to day basis, the job varies lots. You will be dealing with different clients, different teams and in different locations. You are responsible for certain sections of the audit, which get more complex with time. You'll get lots of help and support in your work so you won't have to worry about the tasks you are allocated!

I am currently studying towards a CFAB (Certificate in Finance, Accounting and business) and after this will work towards my chartered accountant qualification. You will receive a huge amount of on the job training as well as internal and external courses. Your personal and professional skills will improve every day as you will regularly converse with team members both above and below you as well as several members of the client team.

The work improves as you progress as your skills improve. Your team will offer a great amount of support to ensure you feel comfortable with what you are working on. EY is one of the largest account firms in the world and brings a lot of prestige with the job. The company culture is centred around it's 'people', more so than the other big 4 and one of the main reasons I chose to join EY. I enjoy my job and look forward to progressing within the business.

EY's culture is centred around it's 'people' and this ensures you feel values. There is a huge amount of investment in training and coaching to ensure you can do your job effectively, making you feel valued by the business. There are several internal reward schemes and you regularly receive feedback on how you are progressing.

You will take part in a 3 day induction program, receive lots of training and support throughout your time at EY. You will be assigned both a counsellor and a buddy who you will listen any issues and concerns you have. Your training, exams and college time will all be organised for you.

We train with Kaplan - as part of this we have several weeks in college to learn content as well as external support from Kaplan. There are lots of online programs and other content as well as the freedom to email your Kaplan tutor if you have any questions. You will also receive guides and study manuals to ensure you can continue to work while you're on the job.

You will work with many different teams and build relationships with lots of different people. You are allocated a buddy when you join who will check on you and ensure you are integrating into the company well and feel comfortable. You will also be allocated a counsellor who is responsible for your progression within the business as well as support you with any issues or questions. EY as a whole is very supportive.

The salary was the best out of what the top 4 were offering for school leavers. As well as this, there are lots of benefits and expenses which help support your costs such as getting to a client site. Lots of free events are put on by EY to supplement the social side of the job as this is incredibly important. I am able to save each month whilst living at home and lease a car.

There are lots of opportunities to get involved with things outside of work. Firstly, you can work with recruitment at local schools and colleges to help support the next years in take. You can also have 2 days of volunteering a year with outside charities and organisations. There are also several teams and group events you can get involved with.

Yes

A great place to work, good remuneration and a great head start in the workplace. EY is a very reputable company and after the training program is complete you will have some amazing opportunities. After becoming a chartered accountant the likelihood is you will earn over £50,000 a year depending on the role you take on. The experience and profession skills you will gain will support you throughout your career.

Get your applications in early and prepare as much as possible for each and every stage of the process. Don't be too worried if it takes some time for people to get back to you, there will be lots of applicants but you will have your opportunity to prove yourself. Everyone throughout the process will be helpful and friendly, so try no to worry and go for it!