Tax Analyst Review

I am an analyst in the corporate tax team. My role across the first two years has been split between studying for exams and working in the office. I have completed and passed 12 exams to date. I spend the remainder of my time on client work and supporting the wider team.

I have made significant progress on a number of skills. My job role requires technical ability, communication skills, time management skills, multitasking and a large capacity to handle pressure. In my nearly two years at the firm I have improved in each of these areas through the work and exams I have been exposed to.

I will qualify my response to this question. I joined Deloitte having come straight from university as an undergraduate. This was with a view to working in the tax practice and getting my ACA and CTA qualifications. The job is excellent and is a brilliant environment to learn in, providing independence and responsibility early on. The exams are fine and work provide enough time and resource to ensure a fair attempt at them. Everything to do with my programme which is apprenticeship specific, i.e. regular Kaplan coach catch ups, the delaying of taking exams and the requirement to submit a reflective essay on top of the requirements of ACA and CTA appears to be a waste of time. The apprenticeship requirements of the programme are so one size fits all as to be completely unfit for purpose. It doesn't add anything to my development other than bureaucracy and hoop-jumping where there doesn't need to be any.

The Deloitte work programme is great and very structured. The way exams are structured are fine and enable a fair attempt at each exam and there is support if needed. The apprenticeship specific elements of the programme are poorly sign posted and don't add anything constructive to my development.

Deloitte provide ample support as and when I need it. This is the same whether the support is related to client work or whether it is related to exams. The firm want us to do well so invest heavily to ensure we can meet our potential. I am confident if I were to have any issues that I could receive support to manage them.

We don't really receive much support from Kaplan. They send us our materials which Deloitte pay for although sometimes don't send them all or the right materials. Where we go to college which Deloitte also pays for we receive tuition which is of a satisfactory standard. It does become annoying when working through the exams to get automated emails from Kaplan checking how we are getting on or questioning why we haven't completed tasks on their website. This is especially true given that the emails we receive often don't align to the deadlines we have been given.

I think the ACA and CTA are hoops which are there to be jumped through. They are relevant to the job and provide a useful level of detail. However, this is then largely forgotten following completion of the exam like every other I have ever sat. They are more relevant than my degree but I will retain about the same amount of information as I have from my degree since leaving university.

Yes - we have plenty of office socials ranging from formal balls, away days, pool tournaments, football etc. This provide the opportunity to release stress post work as well as giving the opportunity to chat to people you wouldn't otherwise speak to. The office regularly host and partake in client/industry events so there is scope to meet clients regularly.

Yes

Deloitte provides you with the opportunity to achieve your professional qualifications and get professional work experience whilst being supported by one of the biggest accounting firms. The work and exams are hard work and can be high pressure but the support and reward are there to provide motivation to drive you to succeed.

Ensure you have a well developed and varied CV. Practice application questions as the recruitment process is fairly rigorous. Research the role so you can give off the impression that you know what you are applying for. Make sure that you are prepared to work hard but also expect there to be plenty of support to ensure you succeed.