KPMG 360 Apprentice Review

At the beginning of the 360 apprenticeship programme, I am an audit assistant (although my cohort are split up across the business into many different departments so not everyone starts in Audit). As an audit assistant I aid my team with various tasks, they are different everyday and range from simple to relatively challenging. You could be doing anything from setting up a work paper, responding to emails, uploading files or even interviewing clients!

I have only been with KPMG since Oct 2017 and already in that time I have developed so many useful skills. I am now far more confident in using Excel everyday, I can talk to new people and network with ease and not feel awkward at all. I also have so much new knowledge about the company, the basics of a business and accounting and life skills.

I do not regret following this path in my career at all. My life has far more structure in it day to day than my friends at uni have and I feel like that is helping me grow as a person in a far more effective way. The qualifications you obtain through this apprenticeship alongside pay and experience are brilliant and you also get to enjoy the social side too with fellow apprentices.

KPMG value their employees and you can definitely see it! The team that run the 360 programme spent weeks making sure all of us 'nebies' were completely comfortable with the way the business works and what they were expecting of us before sending us off and into our departments. I feel that they really value our input and we often have meetings with our 'Performance Managers' who check up on us and ask how we are. If you are struggling then they care and they do help and do everything they can.

The 360 programme has a fair amount of structure. As you rotate through the different areas of the business you put in applications for where you want to go next so you always get a say. In terms of the syllabus and exams, at the beginning of the course we were sent a document that laid out all the exams and training we would be having through the programme for the next 2 years or so! There is definitely good structure within this programme and your managers and those who give you work always clearly set out what you're expected to do and when.

Our current provider has been relatively helpful, they gave us all the materials for our syllabus, practice questions and also flash cards as well as an online platform. The online platform allowed us to re-learn anything we didn't understand in the classroom and practice key areas with online tests. There is also an area where we can ask tutors questions if we need help.

KPMG supports us in every way, whether its to do with our placements, trouble with study, random questions (they always say to us that no question is a silly question) or even problems we are having outside of work. The team that run our programme are so understanding and as a result of that, no one is afraid to speak up if they have an issue inside or outside of work.

Myself and a fellow apprentice have recently moved into a flat 20 minutes away from our office and (so far) our salary covers rent, bills, travel, food and general living expenses with a little bit to spare! It may not be masses but it is enough to get by and if you plan to commute and live at home, those that do that on our programme seem to have little trouble with cash.

There are tons of clubs and networking groups inside KPMG (like uni societies) and you always have the opportunity to volunteer to lead talks, go and talk to school children, help the community and more. The offices in London obviously have a lot around them and I personally spend a lot of my time in one of the gyms near the office.

Yes

They are a brilliant firm, they respect their employees and have given me so much already. I do not dread coming to work like I used to dread going to school. I am enjoying it so much and if you know what career path you want to follow then I would definitely recommend KPMG to a friend.

Research the company, what they do and what they stand for. Here at KPMG we have our values ingrained into everything we do, how we act and who we are inside and out of work. Do your research and be yourself! KPMG love individuals and never be afraid to ask a question!