Accounts Junior Review

I am an accounts assistant. My daily tasks involve; preparing accounting on Caseware through entering on Trial balances to completing work programmes and lead schedules. I produce letters for client accounts, accounts to ROC etc. I also scan a lot of documents to be attached onto Caseware. My daily interactions are mainly internally as I am fairly new to accountancy this is mainly with other members of my team and other people within the office.

I am currently partially way through my level 3 AAT which is funded by my company. With each topic I complete I am gaining lots of new knowledge, which I am then able to apply in my job. Within work we have 'away days' and also webinars where we are kept up to date with new information and knowledge and also any new software. For example we had an away day in November 17 with people from Xero on how to use it and get the best out of it. From working in Mazar I have learnt a lot from how to use new software like Caseware and Xero to the basics of how to enter on TBs, completing fixed asset registers and so on. Also I have learnt how much accountancy is changing and how it is effecting companies in how they have to change their ways, for example trying to become paperless.

I feel I am fully part of a team and everyone supports eachother and gets a long well. I enjoy my programme in terms of having study days and being able to learn whilst work, as this mean every piece of new information I obtain within college I am then able to apply and get more experience of it. This therefore helps a lot with exams and give me a better understanding in my job of how things work and why we do what we do.

I have regular catch ups with my manager where I am told both positive points and points of improvement, which I believe to be good as it means I know how to get better and my job and progress in my career. I feel I am valued within my team. I do not yet do anything externally but in the future i hope to be valued there too.

My training is very well structured in terms of the firm are very well organised as they take in a lot of graduates, meaning they know what they are doing. I get plenty of support in terms of study and exams, especially that we get given study days, which shows the firm appreciates it is difficult to balance work and exams. I also have a mentor, who is part of my team, we have monthly catch ups to see how I am finding my study's and how I want to structure my exams. This is not formal and so is just a laid back way to express how i feel and express any concerns if i have/had any.

My training provider is Kaplan. The weekly session are very informative and the tutor is always on hand to answer any questions. There is also a lot of online classes/ information which is accessible 24/7. I am very happy training with Kaplan.

My employer supports my studies in terms of allowing study days and allowing day release to go to college. In terms of exams it is my choice when i take them. HR does not really get involved.

My salary package is reasonable. It costs quite a bit to travel especially if trains are not running because i have to pay for parking and tunnel fees. With me looking to buy a house in the next year or two i would be looking to have a salary increase as i may struggle on my current.

Mazar try to have monthly social events to enable everyone to get together. We also have a yearly charity day which I am yet to take part in but look forward to it. As i am on a training programme we also have a yearly 4 days away where i originally went to Coventry which was very informative and enabled me to expand my network.

Yes

Good company to work for with good benefits and does think about its employees.

Be aware of how corporate it is and whether you can cope with rules and having to plot down every minute of your time in work onto a timesheet. Come across confident in interviews and know why you want to do the particular job.