KPMG360 Apprentice Review

I am a KPMG360 apprentice at KPMG LLP UK. This 6 year apprenticeship gives us the opportunity to rotate around departments to gain experience relevant experience before choosing a function to specialise in and work towards a professional qualification. So far I have spent 6 months in Private Client Tax where I learnt to prepare tax returns for trusts and private individuals. I am now starting my second 6 month placement in National Markets Audit. During my first year with KPMG I have been studying for level 3 AAT.

I have been studying for level 3 AAT alongside working, however I find that the practice experience working on clients has been the most useful in developing my skills as a young professional. I have learnt great communication skills, team work and integrity.

I have found working in a professional environment with very friendly people to be extremely enjoyable and I seriously recommend it as an alternative to university. The culture at KPMG is very inclusive and everyone I have met has been very welcoming and friendly.

At KPMG we are encouraged to regularly reach out for feedback from our managers and our colleagues. I was quite surprised to find I had overwhelmingly positive feedback from a range of people that had giving me work. This led to me feeling very valued. It is also very nice to see managers giving you time out of their day to explain a concept and ensure you understand the work you are doing.

Our induction week alone shows the how well organised our programme is. A week in KPMG's Birmingham office was very well structured. The week was spent getting to know the other apprentices and learning all about KPMG LLP as a business and important skills we would need in a professional environment.

BBP is our training provider. We get a wealth of online content, physical materials and time in college. We can also reach out to a variety of BBP tutors if we need specific help.

KPMG offers a huge amount of support to assist with our study. Designated days for college and study leave help us prepare for our exams.

There are significant living costs where I live in Bristol, especially for a new apprentice. However, KPMG pays a salary that accounts for where we are located in the UK. Fortunately I am located close to the office so travel costs are negligible.

I have made many friends at KPMG and there are lots of social events organised. KPMG in Bristol has a sports and social committee that plans office wide events once a month. Also most departments plan their own social events. I also had the opportunity of volunteering at local schools teaching children employability skills.

Yes

It is a very friendly place to work that opens many doorways to a great career. The work is enjoyable, especially if you have an interest in accounting, and there is such a range of departments for you to experience and make an educated choice as to where you want to specialise.

I would recommend being honest and upfront throughout the application process and being yourself. Dress smart and be prepared with anything you think you might need.