KPMG 360 Apprentice Review

Working in Corporate Tax allows me to interact with some huge clients on a day to day basis such as Adidas and JP Morgan. The tasks I have done include Bank Reconciliation's, liaising with HMRC, scanning and filing and interacting with clients over the phone. I work closely with a small team and communicate with them often on a day to day basis.

I am currently studying for the AAT Level 3 qualification and upon successful completion, I will hopefully study for the level 4 and move onto chartered qualifications. I have learned many skills such as presentation skills and networking which I believe I lacked before I started working here. I have also massively improved my Microsoft Excel skills as I am using this on a day to day basis constantly finding more efficient ways to complete tasks.

I enjoy the programme a lot because it isn't just work and there is a social aspect to it as well. We are encouraged to network and get to know new people therefore we are not missing out that much on the social aspect of University. The key values of KPMG are drilled into us which allows us to grow and improve. I believe the programme has exceeded my expectations as I have made some great friends as well as learning a lot which has made me enjoy it!

I feel pretty valued at KPMG because I am appreciated by my manager and staff when I have completed a task well and have felt involved in the team from day 1 even if I felt like I couldn't contribute anything due to my lack of knowledge and understanding. You aren't just given praise for doing nothing however if you work hard and attempt to add value and help your team, managers will recognise your work and acknowledge and reward you accordingly.

I believe the programme is very structured because every aspect of it is planned due to there being a specific management team for my apprenticeship therefore they can plan and liaise with each other to find the most suitable structure for the programme. We are given regular induction training and support from the apprenticeships management team giving us all the key information required to succeed at a massive firm like KPMG. Although the induction was only 3 days, we felt like we were ready to step into the office on day 4 because the days were concise and delivered relevant information.

I receive a lot of support from my training provider when I study and have exams as any question/query is always addressed and answered within 24 hours. There are many resources widely available such as online lectures and notes as well as hard copies of notes provided at no cost to yourself. You are given the emails and phone numbers from your tutors therefore if you are struggling with anything, there is a lot of help available and the tutors put in a lot of effort to make sure everyone is prepared fully for their exams.

I receive a lot of support from my line manager, performance manager and my 'Buddy' who helps with day to day queries I have. There is so much support available at KPMG and there is an online A-Z portal for pretty much everything KPMG. When I first started, I may have made errors in some tasks I did and spent more time then I needed to completing them however my manager was very understanding and helped me improve. There is also a great mental health awareness at KPMG and a lot of support is provided for those who require it.

I believe my salary meets all my costs pretty well as I am left with a good amount after I deduct my travel and daily costs each month. When you are travelling away from your KPMG base office, you are given allowances where you can claim back your expenses on things such as train tickets and food meaning that you won't be spending it out of your own pocket which is good. Earning a healthy salary whilst studying and working at KPMG was a much better decision then going to University and paying £9,250 a year to just be a number.

Yes there are many opportunities outside of work. You are given specific days for Corporate Social Responsibility where you can give back to the community and do something such as volunteer to go back to your old college and advertise the apprenticeship programmes. There are also many networks within KPMG such as the Christian and Islamic societies where you can meet many new people from different backgrounds.

Yes

Although it is a huge corporate firm and the demands are high, I have felt welcomed by all the staff here and they have eased me into the world of work with support and guidance to make sure I can fulfil my potential. To enter a bi 4 firm at the age of 19 means that you have the best possible start to your career and can progress faster then any other routes!

I would tell them to just be yourself throughout the recruitment process and make sure you have done your research about the firm and the programme you are applying to. There's no need to be scared about the interview process because everyone was friendly and they aren't trying to catch you out!