Apprentice Review

The programme is rotational, and you get to work in Tax, Audit and Advisory. I audit, you have the opportunity to work on some or all parts of an audit file. You will work in a team and have the chance to talk to the client. This is common as you may be working on the client site itself. Audit jobs can last for a few days to several weeks. Advisory jobs can vary - by industry, nature of work, clients, etc. Work is more qualitative and usually very client-focused.

You complete the Level 3 and 4 AAT qualifications. It is all funded by the provider/firm. This will set you up well for ICAS or ICAEW, which are some of the chartered level qualifications available to you depending on what area you wish to specialise in . The tuition is usually done in the classroom, and sometimes via pre-recorded lectures and self-study. The time available off work is usually sufficient for the tuition, but time off for revision may be difficulty as you are expected to revise after work. The most time given off work for any exam is 1 day so far.

The work is varied, due to the rotational aspect of the programme. You get to work in different teams in each engagement and service line. If the office is big, you will have a chance to meet lots of different people, network with client contact. Overall it is enjoyable. The work can be stressful, with long hours, but the team makes it bearable.

Valued. The amount of investment in training and exams they put you through demonstrates that they value you as a resource. The responsibility they give you is high from the very beginning, which give you opportunity to develop time management, and managing your workload. These are useful skills for the future.

The programme is very well structured. 3 years are for rotating around different service line. The last three ears is the typical chartered route. Time in each rotation is agreed beforehand. The exams and qualifications are also planned out and schedule, so you know what to expect. There are dedicated staff in the programme that you can refer to for help.

You have tutors who you can ask questions from in the tuition provided. There is a dedicated professional qualifications team who you can refer to for help with exams and personal difficulties. This support is great as it helps you throughout the entire programme. There are also set policies in place for most issues, such as grievances, sick leave, exam concessions, etc. The tutors usually are happy to share their contact details, so you can contact them directly for help. There is a virtual earning platform, where you can post queries to questions.

There are set policies in place for most issues, such as grievances, sick leave, exam concessions, etc. The employers liaises well with the training provider. This gives a good seamless support network. The employers is quite transparent with the support provided, and I have not hesitated to reach out for help if required.

The salary package in the first year is satisfactory given the level of entry. Depending on your service lien that you are currently in, the workload can differ. Life in audit can be bad as the hours are very long, which is standard in the industry. In this case, the salary often does compensate for the stress and additional hours required of you.

Yes. There are a lot of different social clubs/societies that you can join. There is also a Social Committee that organises regular fun activities. The relationships you make at work can also extend outside of work. Depending on what comes up, you may have the opportunity to network and reach out to schools and other organisations to spread the news about apprenticeships programmes.

Yes

Great place to work

Be prepared and do your research for the application process.