KPMG Business Services Apprentice Review

I am a Business Services Apprentice and I work in the Business Support Group. I work as a secretary and complete admin tasks and work that anybody needs doing that they might need for client work such as scanning, creating proposals and logging their expenses. I have regular meetings with the fellow Executive Assistants and I switch between the tax side and the audit side expanding my network has become easier since my transition between the two departments a couple of times a week. The tax work can include printing and posting and proposals then on the audit side it is mainly rolling forward and amending accounts. I work off this system called ASK where employees from around the country can put jobs on there and I can pick it up and work on it on their behalf. This is another way of expanding my network across the country as well as regular forums down to the Canary Wharf Office which has just been a dream.

I have learnt a lot of new skills from starting at KPMG a few months ago. The main skill that I have learned is to just be honest and open to people. At KPMG we have a very good working culture and within the offices you meet some fantastic people who are very supportive of you. Before I started I was very shy and quiet, but since I have started working here it has made me realise that being open to people isn't so hard after all. There are also other skills which I have developed since starting. The main one being my time-keeping skills. This is because most jobs that I have been given to complete have a certain time-frame that it needs to be finished by. If you can't finish it in the given time period it can become an issue to clients as well as colleagues within the firm.

I absolutely love my programme! The week before I was meant to start I was starting to wonder whether I had made the right decision in not going to university and taking up an apprenticeship with this company. But, the first week of my programme was the induction down Reading and this made me realise that this was what I wanted to be doing and that it would be worthwhile taking up this fantastic opportunity that I had been offered. I have met some fantastic people from all across the UK such as Southampton, London and Birmingham and employees within my office who I know I will keep in touch with for a long time no matter what happens.

I couldn't have any more praise for KPMG because of it's organisation and structure to everything. Everything that you do whether it's meetings, expenses and scanning has to be organised and structured clearly otherwise you will just lose track of it. Once you enter the office you know exactly what sort of structure and working environment this will be and whether it is from within the office or around the UK in the many offices that we have it is the same and it is absolutely fantastic.

Once again, this is one of the questions where I believe KPMG is one of the best employers that I could have started my career at. We have been given a very good salary, a birthday holiday (which you will find is very rare) and a lunch allowance to allow you to have lunch on a daily basis. Even travel and hotels are booked and paid for by the company which is absolutely fantastic and there are also many other benefits. Especially during the coronavirus crisis they have updated employees on a daily basis, they are putting the health and safety of workers first before anything else, and most importantly they are open and understanding that most people have children and families and they say that people can work hours which can fit that.

My training provider, BPP, are very supportive in what they do. I have a BPP coach who is able to help you no matter what and guide and support you if you have any concerns, issues or general questions. Another way that my training provider offers me the support that I need is that they have a safeguarding number/email which you can ask for help if you are struggling at home. Additionally, we have coursework and certain deadlines that we need to complete work in, but they understand that people may have issues at home or could become ill and they are willing to move deadlines for the work to fit around that which is marvellous.

Everything that I have done, so far, in my qualification has related excellently well to help me perform better in my role. The qualification gives you the knowledge, skills and behaviours that you need to become successful in the role you have chosen to study and not just for that, but for later life as well if you decide to move away and work elsewhere the same skills, behaviours and knowledge will relate to that role as well. It also gives me a work/study balance with a study day of my choice which can help me to get away from work for a day and to study the important points that I need to know and learn for my end point assessment which will determine whether I will pass/fail the apprenticeship.

The social interaction at KPMG between people in the different departments is magnificent and is a fantastic work environment to be working in. As soon as you start to get to know people a bit more your network expands which means that you will be able to do different things with different people. For example, I have a weekly Friday pint club with members of the tax team and have been asked to play a 5-a-side football tournament where all proceedings will go to charity. But, within your apprenticeship there are networking events as well such as forums and the induction at the start which helps you get to grips with your career at KPMG. In other offices there are even more things to get involved in. In the London offie, they have a gym and you can get involved with the members there and start networking. It's great!

Yes

I can't exactly think of a negative thing to say about KPMG and how they have treated me over these past few months since I started, but also how they treat other individuals . The networking events are great and every single person who I have met and talked to so far have been nothing short of magnificent and it is a pleasure to work with them and for this company. I had no idea what I was walking into at the start but it has opened my eyes at what a fantastic firm KPMG is for apprenticeships and for general workers.

Try as hard as you can to get into this company and make your CV the best that it can be because the chance to work for a company the size of KPMG and how they treat their employees only comes round once or twice in your lifetime so take advantage of it. If you end up being successful I recommend to just take every single opportunity that comes your way because you will not forget anything that you do, but if you don't take opportunities you may live to regret it so be positive and open and you shall be successful.