Trainee Associate Review

I am required to perform audit testing across various controls for clients based in Financial Services. It can vary from client to client and whilst you may get some good straight forward testing to perform, other times it can be quite challenging and it definitely helps you build on vital skills such as time management, client relationships, building rapport, communication skills and being able to work as part of a team.

I have developed my IT skills as a lot of the work performed in Audit/Assurance is carried out in workbooks created in Microsoft Excel. Compared to when I initially started, I am now able to perform tasks a lot quicker and I have learnt a lot of shortcuts along the way! I have previously had IT qualifications but I have never learned as much as I have at EY! It can be difficult to learn new skills at times because the Seniors are always too busy to help. I have often been told to look up videos on YouTube or been slandered at the end in the review period because it took me long to work on tasks.

I enjoy working with the clients and the programme which I am on. However, I do not like how some decisions are made even if they are wrong because they are coming from people more Senior than you, they are automatically 'right'. One client I worked on had a tight budget so the margins of profitability would have been affected for the firm. They put the profitability over the health and well-being and this resulted in long commutes for a few hours each day to a different office site instead of staying in hotels overnight as other colleagues were who worked on different clients.

It is well structured as I have been provided with a table of what exams I will be doing in each year along with development opportunities. However, you are not told set dates for exams and these update closer to time - so it could mean changing other plans you may already have. There are moments when no one knows what they are doing and everything is in limbo - obviously it will be you who suffers with stress, not them. The blame game is strong and the new joiners usually get pushed under the bus.

I receive support in the sense the exams and college fees are paid for. However, you have to sign a disclaimer when joining that you will work more than your contracted hours for FREE. This balances it out. I have been working long hours and sometimes when I pro-rata my salary against the hours worked, I would more than likely earn more begging or juggling balls on the street. I receive minimal support when it comes to work as the Seniors are always busy. You get thrown in the deep end even if you do not understand the work and need help. If you are stuck then tough luck. They say no question is a stupid question so you can ask any question you want in your first year. [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions]

Kaplan is really great when it comes to receiving support. They always email you. You can always email them if you get stuck and they reply back and help you as much as possible. The content is also readily available online and any changes or updates to modules are relayed as soon as possible to help you learn the up to date material.

It has equipped me with the knowledge and jargon required to perform well at work. However, it has not necessarily taught me everything as even when I started work, there were a lot of words which I was not familiar with. The training provider has provided the basics which form the skeleton and you have to learn independently and build up on the skeleton to form the rest of the body.

There are always extra-curricular activities such as for Comic Relief and there are always baking contests and other activities such as socials. ALL socials are usually to do with drinks and drinking so I feel the diversity is not there when it comes to others other than the drinkers. If you do not go to any socials, it will be talked about and viewed as if you committed a crime. If you go then you are favoured!

No

[This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] It is no longer as professional as it once used to be.

The company encourages a work-life balance and flexible working. However, this is not the case as they actually believe in you to be present even if you know what you are doing. If you apply then be prepared to 'live to work' and not 'work to live'. They also promote secondments abroad but these are very rare so do not be applying thinking you will go somewhere wonderful. The partner has to sign you off for secondments and the firm is always understaffed, it would not make sense for them to let you go on a secondment.