Corporate Assistant Review

As a corporate assistant working in the audit department at Mazars, no day is the 'same'. My role is to be part of the audit team that goes out on site and reviews the financial statements of an entity, to ensure that they are free from material misstatement. This involves carrying out audit tests on areas such as payroll, purchases, debtors and revenue to ensure that the FS are accurate.

As an auditor, I am heavily reliant on IT and in particular Excel as this is the software we use for working papers. As a result I have became proficient in the use of excel. The role I perform is a client facing one, therefore I have became very comfortable with communicating with and building rapport with clients from all sorts of backgrounds. I have also through training and experience been given a platform of knowledge in accountancy.

I enjoy my programme very much. I feel well supported by my colleges at all levels, from other new starters all the way up to partners/managers. One of the things I enjoy most about the programme is the opportunity to learn as every week/two weeks I am out at a different client with different operations and business strategies. It is a very insightful programme.

I would say that on a whole it is well structured- there is a wealth of on the job experience which is well balanced with in house and external training. The only issue I would say I have faced is that the dates given on student pathways regarding OCR and exams have not always been kept to and changes in these have not been well communicated.

The level of support received from the employer is very high. There are many resources available if help is needed and colleagues are very willing to provide assistance with anything- whether it is work related, study related or personal issues. The environment as a whole is a supportive one, both in the office and out on site.

The training provider has provided a lot of support when working towards qualifications. There has been a combination of both online classroom learning and in house training. Whilst the in-house training makes it easier to ask questions to tutors as they are physically present, the tutors are very prompt in responding to queries when completing online learning.

I would sat that the qualification I am studying gives me a greater level of technical knowledge that can be applied to my role. For instance, doing exams in areas such as tax means I have a greater understanding of these areas on an audit file, thus allowing me to push myself further in the workplace.

Yes- there is a wide range of networking events which I have been invited to (optional) which give me the chance to meet other professionals from other sectors/industries. In addition to this, we have 6 monthly interdepartmental football matches which are enjoyable but also competitive. We also engage in social activities out of work hours, i.e. Friday drinks.

Yes

The environment created by Mazars encourages growth, as both a professional and an individual. There is a large network of support available when you need it and you are given lots of hands on experience within the job. You get the feeling that you are valued by the company and that they want you to reach your potential.

Make sure you do your research on the company and understand what Mazars' are about; their ethos, culture and values and why they are different to other large accounting firms. Make full use of options such as mentor phone calls as we have all been through the same process and are able to offer you advice on how to get through it yourself!