trainee accountant Review

I am an apprentice in the National markets corporate tax team in Southampton. My role day to day involves doing research on our clients, updating alpha tax, drafting letters to HMRC. Printing filing and scanning accounts and tax computations. I also fill out information requests and also take action when the information is received back from the client. and much more.

Yes, I think starting in the Southampton office has developed my skills in building professional relationships with my fellow colleagues. I also find that my tax knowledge has developed from all of the research I have been doing on our clients and also the variety of our clients allows different work on tax treatments so can see a wider view of how tax is calculated in different situations

So far I do enjoy the programme, I really enjoy how for work and for different types of training we travel across the country and go to other offices. For example London, Birmingham, Southampton and the Bristol office are all offices I have been to so far. This allows me to network with other people. All of the apprentices on this programme are so nice, and I have made so many new friends already even though I don't see 95% of them all. I enjoy the professionalism in the workplace and the general KPMG cultured atmosphere within any workplace I have been in.

I feel that I am treated very fairly at KPMG. I don't feel as though there is some sort of arrogance or royalty within my superiors behaviour, They all treat me the same as they treat anyone else regardless of there grade which is really nice. KPMG have offered me all the support and help I need with exams and general query's and questions I have, so I feel very valued by KPMG.

I think the programme itself is very good because of the flexibility, which is why I chose it! The programme has a very systematic approach as to who its organised, how ever there has been a lack of communication with my placement manager. Therefore I have very little idea of what my next placement is going to be, or even the placements after that. One of the issues a lot of people have faced is doing placements at other offices, as the placements offered in London compared to my base office in Southampton is ridiculous.

I have received a lot of support from my training provider. There has been constant communication between us and there always seems to be something going on I can do or attend on my own behalf which is really nice as I feel the resources are endless and I can further my training and understanding continuously.

My buddy has been very supportive throughout my experience so far in my tax placement, and has a positive attitude towards improving my knowledge and learning. My performance manager has kept in touch with me regarding my experiences and any problems I have had, she will normally resolve these with a phone call, and is very quick to respond to emails. I now have a new performance manager who I can imagine will be exactly the same and I am looking forward to starting to work with her.

I have moved out of my parents house to an apartment I rent myself as my parents home is a 2 hour drive from the Southampton office and I own a car which I drive to work everyday. the salary offered to an apprentices is not near enough to cover my social costs after I have paid my rent, petrol, car insurance, food, road tax and various other bills. But I can imagine for an apprentice that does not pay rent and does not own a car their pay packet will contain a lot of disposable income so it depends on the situation but for me It does not cover my costs very well.

yes there are loads of events and cascades and social events outside of work. The main purpose of the events is normally for networking or trying to relay information, or inform us on something. There is a football team here that play every Wednesday but I am still yet to attend this. There are a lot of voluntary initiatives and schemes that are available and very easy to access so that is something I will be looking into very soon this year as I think it will be great experience for myself and course helping others.

Yes

Most likely through the support that is given throughout the apprenticeship regarding exams and wellbeing. KPMG really do take care if their employees in so many ways. Also the benefits that come with a KPMG employee are very good with regards to flextra etc. The training, learning and experience at a firm like KPMG is top shelf and having that on your CV is very impressive and will open so many doors in the future.

I am someone who is very nervous with new things and also really shy, but I new that if I appeared shy throughout any stage of my application process I would not have got the job. Therefor my advice would be to literally reinvent yourself to be the most loud, confident outgoing individual for the 1 day that could be your assessment centre, and then you can develop you character throughout your career but for the application process that is the advice I would give to someone. Another piece of advice I would give would be to do your own research on the firm and everything about them and try and incorporate your research into your answers so you can show that you have a real interest in the firm and a real drive and aspiration.