Trainee Associate Review

I am an Associate in Audit, which means that I help to 'execute'/'carry out' tasks in an audit, under the guidance of a Senior. A Senior is someone who has been with the firm for 2+ years, and they are the point of call for help with tasks and the people who will ultimately review your work. (Don't worry - they're generally very helpful and approachable, also up for a laugh/chats alongside the work!). Most of my day consists of working in Excel on actual audit work (tying back/tracing numbers) and. contacting the client to check on status of work/any queries. In audit, you'll generally be working on just one team at a time, this can be anywhere from being posted for a week to having one huge client year-round!

EY pays for us to earn the ACA, which is a well-rounded and valued qualification. We also have access to web-based learning sessions, which I have personally found useful to develop my knowledge of audit in different areas. The best enhancement of my skills, however, for me is definitely the little tricks you pick up in Excel day-by-day, or the things you learn just by doing your job. I definitely feel on most days that I am learning things beneficial/relevant to my career, even if they are as simple as writing a professional email/presenting your work in a neat way.

I personally enjoy audit because I like working with numbers. The team culture is a HUGE plus; even if you are stuck in an audit room for hours on end, time flies when you have a good team to have banter with. Busy season, at least for me, wasn't really 'advertised' before I started the programme - from Jan-mid Feb (often till March/Apr too), you will be expected to work from 9-9pm as a minimum, depending on if your client has a year-end audit (though you do get dinner!).

As an Associate, it is expected that you will be put on the easiest of tasks and are the lowest ranked in a team. So far I have been treated with respect, but this does really depend on the team you get posted to. There are several schemes run by the firm where people get recognition for the work, and it is good to see that people are recognised for their efforts.

Our programme is five years long, with 15 papers set out over five years. We have a Counsellor whom we can reach out to for support, and I am very grateful for this. Regular meetings are a mandatory requirement. I know that I have a few avenues to reach out to if I ever needed help with work/my education..

Our training provider is Kaplan. I have had queries over the year to do with my paper, and I have been able to reach out to my tutor who has always got back to me with (much appreciated!) thorough explanations. During college they are also very much open to helping you, though college is pretty tight and you're absorbing a tonne of material in a short period of time!!

Generally, most Seniors are open and approachable - they were in your position once too! Counsellors are always a good source of advice or guidance, as are 'Buddies' (someone in the year above, usually). I have never had to deal with HR, but I do believe that there is a dedicated line/extension and it is easy to reach them if needed.

I have very low costs, as I live at home and have most of my needs met. It is a good pay for our age, but some of my friends who live in London do struggle a bit towards the end of the month! It would be good to earn more/overtime pay during busy season, just because of the hours/effort being put in.

Yes!! There are several networks to be a part of at EY, including sports teams/social committees. I personally have joined the Christian Network, receive emails from the EY Foundation (charity) and just helped out at an assessment centre today! Outside of work, someone is always going out for Friday drinks, and some of the bigger teams run socials; my friend has gone bowling and to an escape room with her team.

Yes

Missing out on the uni social experience was a big factor for me, but since EY is a large firm you get to make friends from a bigger intake! EY is sincerely a people firm, and you can make a friend/network even in the queue for the microwave (true story!).

Be a friendly, vivacious person in your AC/interviews. How are YOU a people person? How can you demonstrate that you're someone who anyone can work with for days on end? Most of all - smile! Be confident in yourself.