International Tax Assistant Review

I spend most days in the office, assisting varied multinational clients with issues surrounding corporate taxes in their global business. Often I will be writing up advice for clients, organising meetings that work for teams in several different countries and coordinating international project teams. I often feel like I am able to make a difference on huge projects relating to companies worth billions.

EY really care about my development: our technical training programme also builds in opportunities to develop public speaking and networking skills. I have also had the opportunity to develop my leadership skills, taking on a directing role in our Arts Partnership locally (a programme where we partner with galleries and in return get free tickets to shows and private viewings).

The programme is hard work, and I can no longer relate to my old school friends who now complain about 9am university lectures. However, if you enjoy a challenge it can be really rewarding. There are also perks to make sure we're enjoying ourselves like regular team meals and socials (about twice a month).

Very well organised. I know when all my exams are for the next year and can pick up my revision materials at any time. There is a dedicated apprenticeships team that I can contact whenever I need help, and we have special internal software to track my progress. I have to give regular updates on my 'off the job learning' and 3 times a year, alongside my regular feedback, I provide detailed examples of where I have developed key skills for my seniors to review.

I receive lots of support from my employer. My job role is very technical and based in sometimes quite complex legislation. However, not only do I receive internal training on the technical knowledge I need to know (a mix of classroom sessions called ACTD and online learning) but I also have many people around me in my team who are willing to take time out to explain technical concepts to me. I feel they are invested in my development and how well I understand things. I also have a counsellor who manages my long term development and monitors the feedback I receive, as well as addressing any concerns I may have. When I expressed an interest in technology, my counsellor was able to assist me in arranging a secondment to our tax technology team.

The support is good but it is outsourced to Kaplan Financial. Kaplan provide me with up to date and useful learning materials - a mix of a paper guide, study manuals, question banks and online resources. I feel I have everything I need to study, I just need to put in the work! I will have a couple of days study leave for each exam, so a lot of it needs to be done in your own time (like revising for GCSEs and A levels).

I am currently sitting the certificate level exams for the ACA through ICAEW, but this is not yet relevant to my job as I do not perform accounting tasks at work. While in general it has made me more confident with financial principles, I am glad that EY provides further internal training on corporate tax and international tax as this is relevant to my job.

There are loads of extra curricular activities at EY! I am involved in the Women's Network, the Unity Network (for LGBT staff), the Mental Health Network, the EY Foundation (our charity), the EY Arts Partnership, the Future Tax Director's Network, the EY Midlands People Network and EY Ripples (which aims to make a positive social impact in our communities). There are also football and netball teams in my office and frequent socials. My team and I recently went to Junkyard Golf on Brick Lane in London, for example.

Yes

The programme requires hard work but I feel like I'm moving forward quickly. I'm taking on responsibility, developing personally and professionally and having a good time while I'm doing it! The teams I work with are great and supportive, and I'm proud of where I work and what we do.

You'll do best in the application process if you really do your research on the company and put work into understanding each task you're given. If you apply in August, you not only have a better chance of being accepted, but this will also give you plenty of time to prepare for the assessments as you're on summer break! I wish I'd been told, however, that it's much more about coming across as somebody who would be excited to work for EY and would be a nice person to work with than showing off how much you know. A great place to start in preparing is coming to visit us in one of the offices. We have frequent open events , details of which can be found on our student careers site.