Rating
- 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
- 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
- 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
- 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
- 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
- 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
- 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
- 8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
- 9a. Would you recommend KPMG to a friend?
- 9b. Why?
- 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to KPMG?
I have to check company accounts and make sure they are true in order to give comfort to their shareholders. This is involves liaising with clients directly and having to juggle different tasks throughout the day. Audit is considered to have a stigma around it, being long hours and difficult clients- you work with a range of companies from hospitals to corporate.
Yes defiantly, I am lot more confident with talking to clients, especially about accounting terms. I am a lot more business aware now through Linked In, internal company systems and networking with colleagues. This has really developed my awareness and interest in the business world- working for one of the big 4 has it's benefits to do this.
At the minute the programme is 'okay' I feel like the structure is particularly favourable in terms of being able to rotate before deciding to fast track i.e. being in audit for 2 rotations, so not know any different. The programme is probably marketed a little wrong- i.e. a lot of people end up in audit and don't actually experience any other part of the business in the first year of the programme. The programme should probably just do first year audit, instead of trying to say that it is 'rotational'.
The organisation of the programme is good- we have had calls at the start to explain around just starting in the business. However, this all felt a bit of a rush, i.e. we were not given enough time on how to do timesheets, expenses and stuff (the really important day to day tasks). The structure of the programme is okay- again the decision to fast track is probably too soon and the fact the majority of apprentices are in audit to start suggests that it isn't really a rotational programme. Argument is that business needs and busy season, but don't give any indication of that before you are put in your placements.
There couldn't be enough support- always someone there to ask for help or if unsure on anything. Plenty of support available in the firm at various levels. This is with any aspect of the role, if you're feeling under pressure or even if you feel like you would like a mentor- there are programmes out there for everything imaginable.
Loads of support was given when i was working towards my qualifications, this was external and gained my qualifications before joining KPMG. I had to work and study at the same time- this was very important as a lot of people struggle with this. But it was made clear from the start that support was available and i received this when needed.
Yes- learning towards the qualifications helps you understand the accounting world better. you can apply what you learn to your everyday role! I.e. if you're in the middle of your indirect tax exam and doing some tax work for a client a the same time. This really highlights the benefit of an apprenticeship- being able to work and learn at the same time really helps.
Yes there are endless amounts of extra curricular activities outside of work for you to be able to partake in. Volunteering opportunities such as doing mock interviews for year 11s, careers fairs, helping with recruitment and internal networking events like socials at the end of the month- really helps feel like you're part of a firm making a difference.
Yes
As one of the big 4 it offers endless amounts of benefits from out of work opportunities to internal ones. It opens up a whole new world to what you can do, the apprenticeship offers such a good opportunity to be able to learn and earn at the same time. Being able to apply your studies to your working day doesn't happen everywhere.
Be yourself, out the box, don't think like everyone else. KPMG are made up of amazing people, at the end of the day, they want to employee you because of you. Show that in the application process by offering something different, make sure you practice the exams given as well or try and attend a KPMG insight day or something- this offers the chance to look into the application process and top tips etc.
Details
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Accounting, Finance
Bristol
May 2019