Trainee Tax Advisor Review

My role includes working as part of a team to advise clients on their business matters, particularly their tax affairs, including advising on ways which will maximise how much tax they can recover from HMRC or how they can reduce the amount of tax they pay. We also assist with client's compliance with HMRC tax reporting requirements by providing tools which simplifies this.

I have developed my accounting and tax technical knowledge the most since joining EY. I have also improved my communication and teamwork skills, whilst learning how to adapt to varying levels of responsibility. My time management skills have also been developed through having to meet multiple deadlines. The internal training has taught me other skills such as ways of protecting sensitive information and how to implement the firms core values into my day to day job.

I thoroughly enjoy my programme as it allows me to develop my professional skills and gain work experience whilst also working towards a high level qualification. Every person I have worked with has been willing to help when I am struggling and I really feel that my team has my best interests at heart. The work I do also varies which allows me to gain experience in working with clients from varying sectors and industries, whilst providing different types of advice or assistance.

I believe that my programme is very well structured, as I am provided with lots of training in relation to my day-to-day job, as well as being told when my next exams will be, so that I have time to prepare. I am part of a peer support group which involves talking to apprentices that joined before me, to allow my peers and I to raise any concerns or issues without going directly to the management in my team.

I receive lots of support, including having a mentor for the first few weeks of my time at EY, and now having a counsellor who is a Director in my team, to discuss concerns, check in on my mental and physical wellbeing, and discuss my career goals. EY also has been accommodating to my peers who have needed a desk, desk chair or other computer equipment due to working from home for an extended period of time, by providing these.

There are designated teams within EY to assist with both my programme and my qualification who I can talk to if I have any questions or need additional help. I enjoy my qualification as it allows me to have the benefits of a job as well as working towards something that will assist my career in the future. Extra support is available when students are struggling with exams, or balancing work and studies.

The qualification helps me perform better in my role by providing me with technical knowledge. It also enables me to focus on my time management skills when I have timed exams. I am doing a Chartered Accountancy qualification which isn't directly related to my job but includes modules which are specific to my service line (tax).

Whilst social activities have been paused due to COVID-19, there are still societies which meet regularly via Teams to chat. I am part of the Women's Network where we organise International Women's day activities and other firm-wide webcasts etc. There are many other networks and societies to join.

Yes

EY provides me with the opportunity to do a Chartered Accountancy qualification which will assist me with my career in the future. There are many progression routes and I really feel that I am supported by my peers at EY and that I am able to create the career I want by choosing what sectors to work with, what teams to work with, whether I want to specialise etc.

The best advice I could give when applying for higher apprenticeships is to be yourself - be honest and open, tell stories that are from your personal experiences to interviewers. This is a career, not just a job, so it is just as important that you like the sound of the role as the interviewer liking the applicant.