2nd year Audit Associate Review

I am an Audit Associate in my second year. My role now is carrying out the bulk of audit testing and coaching first years. I have to get familiar with all areas of financial statements as I will be a senior in a few months and will be expected to lead audits. My day-to-day tasks include carrying out testing on various figures within the financial statements to ensure they are materially correct. I would say about 30% of my day is spent in client meetings discussing findings or trying to gain clarity over what management has done.

I've learnt a lot of new skills. I have sat exams, therefore have learnt a lot of new academic new skills. I have audited many areas of financial statements, therefore have learnt about these areas and picked up a better approach to testing. Personal skills include being more confident, having better interpersonal skills, being able to manage relationships and carry a large workload.

I enjoy the bulk of my programme. This is because, I am in a company with an excellent reputation, where you have access to a lot of the worlds largest companies financial statements and employees. Therefore, you are continually changing contexts', whilst getting exposure to loads of different areas of financial statements.

I feel rather valued.

I do not know too much about the future of the programme. We are told a few months in advance if we will be having exams and do not know about the whole overall structure of the programme.

A lot.

Enough.

I feel the salary could be higher. I understand that as school leavers we do not have degrees and therefore cannot have the same total remuneration package as a graduate. However, we are deemed exactly the same, do the same work and during the first 3 years, school leavers work a lot more as the graduates are in college for most of the time.

There are a lot of opportunities to get involved in charity work, we are allowed 2 CSR days each year. There are treks and hikes we can participate in in other countries.

Yes

Great company, great reputation, great exposure to very intelligent people and good working environment.

Apply early and attend as many insigh days / open days / recruitment events as possible. Try and expand your network and utilise people within your arsenel to try and learn as much as you can before making your applications.