Assistant tax advisor Review

Usually arrive to work around 9:00, it is flexible working so they are not strict about the time you have to be in, however it is best when you are new to not take any liberties with it. It can involve many things like setting up the background work before a client engagement such as due diligence and research, or filing a return. I go to London on a weekly basis for a project and sometimes stay overnight, the company pay for expenses like train, hotel and dinner. I usually leave at 17:30, however I have been able to leave early on certain occasions, you just need to make up the time some other way.

I have developed my multi-tasking skills, this is because I am involved on lots of different projects so I need to keep track of where we are for each of them. Furthermore I have developed my communication in various forms, my vocal communication for example, I used to hate talking on the phone to anyone but you get used to it talking with colleagues in different offices. My written communication has also developed from writing emails to clients and senior members of EY in order to be more professional etc.

At the start there was a two day induction where I got to meet all of my fellow new joiners, at the end of the second day we had drinks and pizza with some other colleagues. I have also had the chance to travel a little bit, I have been to London a lot of times as well as Birmingham.

The programme is very well structured. We had 7 days of college in September to learn the basics of accounting. We will also have 2 days of refresher college before our exam at the end of may. We were also sent the schedule for the year's college and exams at the end of the previous year

When you have exams you are given study leave so you are able to focus on exams. In addition the people you work with understand the importance of exams so tend to take it slightly easier on you around exam time. You also have a counsellor who you are able to talk any problems through and are assigned a 'buddy' when you first join so they help you learn the ropes.

You receive a fair amount of support from the training provider. After we had the college and before our exam there was a change in the syllabus and they had a 3 hour webcast on the updates as well as printing copies of the new workbooks we would need to collect

I have not felt my qualification has applied directly to my role yet as I have been involved in mostly work that does not focus on basic accounting. The work I do is more specific to my sub service line which involves more technology and reports for assessments with meeting government initiatives and less generic than accounting.

There are lots of extra curricular activies advertised in the London offices, however I don't think they are as well advertised at more regional offices. Although, there is a football team at mine and various networks in order to show acceptance of all people to join at all offices if my understanding is correct.

Yes

It is a good working environment. In addition, the school leaver programme is much better than going to university and then joining as a grad. This is because it saves you 3/4 years of uni, as well as all of the debt, furthermore, by the time you would have joined as a grad, if you joined as a school leaver you already have a head-start at climbing the corporate ladder

Be honest in why you are applying to them, simply saying because they're in the Big 4 is not enough. Also, do your research about what it is they do, any initiatives or goals they have (Vision 2020 +) and what you would be doing if you were to be successful in your application as it shows you are thinking ahead.