Assistant Senior Review

I am now getting to the stage where I am the senior on my engagements. On a day-to-day basis, I will have to manage, plan and co-ordinate the more junior members of my team to ensure that the engagement is running smoothly. I also have an important role in providing an update to the management team for the whole engagement and therefore need to be aware of all different aspects.

Over the past two years, I have developed my communication skills by a large amount due to the nature of the job and having to communicate with clients from the beginning. I have also learnt a lot of technical skills which I did not have before and these have helped me a lot with the tasks that I carry out.

I feel the school leaver programme is an extremely good choice for anyone that is not fully set on going to university. Being able to do the same job as someone who went to university for four years is a great feeling and also sitting the exams as you go through the programme.

I feel as though the programme is structured well. You will still be performing the same work as the graduates in the same year as you but the exams are spread out a lot more which is extremely helpful in the first couple years when you are in a new environment from what you are used too.

My employer and management team are extremely supportive and understand that you may have just come from school and therefore not obtained the same experience that a graduate may have at the same time as joining. I have been supported continuously and don't feel that I have been treated different from a graduate.

ICAS will provide a large amount of support when sitting the exams as you will be provided with days that you will go to college to learn the courses that you will be sitting an exam in. In addition to this, they have an online facility that you can chat with lecturers with any queries and this also has additional material.

I feel that as you move up your role, the additional exams are necessary to give you the understanding of the more complex areas that you may not have experienced in the early stages of your career. The progression through sitting the exams is beneficial when having to complete more complex tasks as you have the knowledge required for these.

EY have a social committee which run numerous events throughout the year and also multiple networking events that you can get involved in. This will help you network not only with the people in your department but also with individuals from all different levels across the different departments that there are in the office.

Yes

I feel as though the school leaver programme is a much better idea and path to choose instead of university. You will still meet a lot new people but you will be qualifying as a chartered accountant around 2 years earlier than someone that went to university and then joined through the graduate programme.

The application process is a tough process but it is worth going through as you get an amazing experience straight from school and you could be qualified by the age of 23. At EY there are people from many different backgrounds and this is something that is welcomed at EY.