Audit Assistant Review

I work in the audit team so it is my job to typically be out at the client site, testing the financial statements to make sure they are true & fair. This involves a lot of testing, client interaction and problem solving, and it is really interesting! I spent much more time out at clients than in the office as that is where most of our audit work is performed as an assistant.

I am become much more competent on Microsoft Excel as that is the software we use for the majority of our work. I have also developed my confidence massively as I spent a lot of time interacting with my clients. This role has also helped me to be more organised, as we have a busy schedule and are always in different areas of the North West every week!

I really enjoy working at RSM, since starting in August 18 with no accounting background, it is amazing to see how far I have come in the 6/7 months I have been there. The training programme has been very rigorous which has helped cement basic accounting principles for me at an early stage.

The School leaver programme is well structured and involves a lot of on the job work, balanced by usually 1 day per week at BPP college as part of the AAT studies. We also had a busy training schedule for the first couple of months down at Heathrow in London so we could get to grips with the basics in order to be able to work out at clients.

We receive support where it is due, and we have a Line Manager and Exam Training Manager if we have any queries. Although there is a lot of responsibility and it is our job to make sure we balance our studies well with our personal lives as well as make sure we know where we are going each week etc.

BPP are extremely helpful, and all the tutors give a lot of support and explanation. They are always there on email or on the phone to make sure we maximise our potential. The online platform is very good too, and there are always plenty of opportunities for question practise and sample assessments to have a go at!

Since the AAT qualification starts at Level 3 (which is quite basic), I feel the work I am doing out at clients is much more advanced than what I am learning out at the client site, and some of the modules (such as Management account) are not totally relevant to the audit role I am performing at RSM, although it will benefit me in the future if I decide to move to a different area of the business.

We have plenty of social activities as RSM really do recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance. There is also mental health mindfulness activities at lunchtimes in the office to help you switch off from your work at lunch and have a break, as well as Swimathons that have been organised, and a Sports Day coming up later in the year.

Yes

Because not only are you working towards a professional qualification (that is fully paid for by RSM), but also you are earning a very respectable wage for our age which allows us to still have a good social life and have time to switch off from work on well deserved holidays and weekends away!

Be yourself! RSM are always looking out for personalities and it will make you stand out if you have some interesting hobbies or work experience to talk about. You will need to be very work focussed and be able to cope with your own responsibilities and workload, but if you can manage that then you will certainly reap the rewards!