Audit associate Review

I am a senior audit associate. This involves ensuring the financial statements are reasonable, and are in line with our understanding, and free from material misstatement reflecting the financial performance transparently. I interact with individuals internally from junior associates to partners, to the client from account assistants to chief finance officers.

I am also undertaking a professional qualification with ICAEW. This is the ACA. Comprises 15 exams. These have ensured that i have continuously bolstered my skills in finance- related areas. EY commits itself to adherence to internal training (web learning exercises etc), and the communication with so many stakeholders means that these skills are also heightened.

The programme itself is not simple. It does require dedication and commitment to being flexible. Your day will move from exams to day to day working in audit. But the exposure you gain to so many facets of corporate life means that you do come out of this very well rounded, which means I do enjoy my experiences.

Everything from induction today is very well structured and organised. You have a Line Manager who is there whenever you require assistance with a job or even personally. They also take the formal quarterly cycle feedback review. In regards to exams, there is a professional qualifications team, who are there to support.

As mentioned, there is a line manager to assist with the day to day queries and issues. There is a lot of self service support from the online portal. If not, any technical issues can be picked up via mobile. The general attitude at EY means that the company is always ready to support you.

My training provider is ICAEW. I very much enjoy the support received from the institute. There is a dedicated EY internal individual whose position is to help you with the institute. Externally, there is always guidance with any issues, or circulars in regards to forthcoming exams sent to you via email.

The ACA qualification through the ICAEW does link quite well to the work you perform on a day to day basis in audit. There are a few exams specifically which help with your accounting knowledge, and audit expertise. I have put into practice the theory I have learnt quite regularly.

There are many extra curricular activities to get involved in at EY. You have regional socials, per quarter or per half year. You then also have socials per department where we have gone out to a restaurant or go karting. THere are also multiple professional networking events, and religious societies.

Yes

The experience you obtain at this firm is very unique. The breadth and depth of knowledge you procure as an associate, to the new skills you learn, to the current skills you boost, and being able to get paid a competitive salary, and a very reputable qualification with the ICAEW.

Be yourself. Do not seek to find skills that EY would like to hear about in the interviews. Instead, make sure you seek to reinforce what qualities you have and write these down. Practice before your online tests, your assessment days, your interview. I would have loved to have been told that at the end of the day the person hiring you just wants to see whether you are a good fit, and not how many skills you can list.