Associate Review

We start in the firm as associates. The initial role is rather basic and you start to learn how to use excel, communicate with the client on a low level and look at areas such as PPE. In the second placement your role in the team increases dramatically, having to communicate with the client constantly, help the more junior members of the team and look at more sophisticated areas of accounting. Your technical knowledge will increase 2 fold on the second placement.

Having read through a whole annual report I now have a strong understanding of many of the companies that I have worked on. This has improved my business awareness and fundamental understanding of account reporting. I have gone from never using excel in my life to becoming a bit of a wiz. I have improved my technical understanding of accounts and ability to communicate, having worked as part of a large team. I have also improved my organisational skills, having to manage a lot of work at once.

All of the teams that I have worked with have been great! The balance of work and social activities with the team is better than one would expect throughout the busy periods and we always find time to socialise. Everyone on the university programme are very good friends and support one another. It is both a good environment to learn and have fun.

There are a lot of people in the firm, so you must make effort to network. On the jobs that I have been on, even the partners have thanked all of the junior staff for their efforts on the job. Everyone pulls their weight and you are with a lot of intelligent people and everyone feels like they are part of a very strong team.

The programme structure can be found on the reading university web page. We get 12 exemptions from the ACA exams which puts you in a very strong position for when you join the firm. We receive training before starting placement and then we have an additional 2 days once we start full time.

We receive a conference call whilst on placement and can easily contact the lectures if there are any problems at any point and they will be quick to respond.

We have a people manager that is there for us throughout the whole of placement and can be easily contacted. You are also allocated buddies that can offer support. None of this is any way near the support that you receive from your peers and your intake on a daily basis.

As part of the degree, they pay for accommodation whilst in London. This combined with the salary and benefits that come with the job does provide for a good lifestyle.

Yes, there are team building exercises and many social events especially in London. There are updates and many debates that you can partake in. You have the chance to do a presentation on a Monday to you fellow colleagues. There is also the London Triathlon in the summer.

Yes

Because it is a great working environment and you learn a lot from everyone.

Be confident, stay true to who you are, the partners and recruiters know who they are looking for and if you pass the interviews and join the firm then you have what it takes. Read up about the firm before an interview and know what you are applying for.