Audit associate Review

I am a trainee associate in FS - Asset Management. I work mainly on regulated funds, where I perform basic audit tasks. There is heavy use of excel where my responsibilities are to ensure balances are stated correctly. This is done through various testing methods. I work closely with a senior to ensure my work is done well and have fair amount of client interaction via email. Some of my minor roles can change on a daily basis but i usually have certain work feeded to me by my supervisor and 80% is the same type of work.

My excel skills have improved greatly due to the constant use of the program. There have been various training days that have improved my knowledge of the industry and of the software my company uses. Being in a corporate environment I have improved my communication skills and work ethic. I take professional qualifications also which have given me broad and basic knowledge of my role as an accountant. I look forward to developing my skills further in the future with the company.

I very much enjoy working in a corporate environment as I have a strong work ethic. I'm fortunate to work within an industry I am interested in. I on a whole get on well with my teams. There are however individuals which I feel aren't helpful or welcoming, this is to be expected though as it is unlikely to get on with all. The company culture is a healthy balance between hard work and socializing. I do however feel that there are patronizing elements where the company attempts to include all people. This often feels forced due to compulsory departmental meetings.

Within a small team I feel that work done is appreciated and this is supported through feedback received. There are also team events such as lunches where teams are able to bond. On a larger scale it is difficult to feel valued as it is such a large organisation and so individuals are often overlooked. I feel like there are parts of the company and team leaders who need to be analysed a bit more to help improve their roles within the business and this in-turn would show the company caring about more employees too.

The programme was structured fairly well. There was a clear induction period with training that helped us gain confidence in the workplace. There are specific support systems in place to ensure all runs smoothly and employee's well being is considered. I however feel there are issues with the different expectations. Different seniors expect different amounts of knowledge and ability, which shows no consistency. Furthermore I feel that the studying schedule for exams does not take into consideration the fact that school leavers have had limited higher education and so are not used to the conditions.

I feel that all the resources expected are provided and with easy access. For more support there are different outlets available, but these do not seem to be well known nor do tutors seem to actively encourage further tutor - student contact time. I think that we are not reviewed enough with our roles within training. I feel as though we aren't giving enough feedback to the company with our time through the programme and they don't want any feedback to help improve their programme either.

There are various support teams available, with some better than others. Support is often best from those who you work closely with. Support from the firm as a whole seems limited in the sense that if someone has issues than they are less concerned with employee's well being than overall work performance. As mentioned above, i feel as though the company should ask for feedback from us to help their programme for future trainees. I would definitely have a few pointers for my supervisors but our voices aren't heard really.

The salary is fair for the job level, and London prices have been taken into consideration. However there is difficult to save a reasonable amount of money for future purposes such as deposits on homes. This however is a national issue seen in all jobs and not just within the firm. I feel as though it would be very difficult to go through the company and expect to have enough money saved to rent a flat etc. in the local area as the costs from the company would not cover this. I understand that the salary will increase the further you progress through the company but this would take years.

There are various opportunities available. However I feel that only a few are advertised well and so it is easy to overlook other opportunities. I think that more opportunities should be offered to the trainees, even if it was a group-building activity or something; i feel as though we don't get enough time to interact and get to know the people you work with on a business level let alone a personal level. This would be an area the company needs to improve on for future trainees/employees. I would suggest a few group-building activities for motivation and for employees to get to know one another.

Yes

Ultimately it is a respected company with fair pay and experience. On a larger scale it is easy to feel undervalued but this is not unique to this firm. I feel as though it's a good stepping stone into work experience and getting good training but wholelly i would definitely say to look around and make sure you're in the right industry and that you got the best traineeship/apprenticeship/leaver programme for you. I would reccomend this to a friend but also let them know that there could possibly be better programmes for them out there.

Ensure you behave professionally but are honest in your strengths and weakness so that once joining you are in fact suited to what you have applied for. Ensure you are aware of the company and read up on what the company is about as well to show you have taken the time and effort to do your research too. Act professionally if you have an interview, dress smart and greet anyone at the company with confidence and a smile, they appreciate someone with a bit of character as well as someone who's motivated.