Analyst Review

My role is within the tax team, focusing on direct and indirect tax for major corporates. The work is hugely varied according to client needs, being a more advisory role - it includes a lot of client meetings, internal discussions and creating process improvements. There are also more day-to-day processes for monthly/annual reporting requirements.

The learning curve so far has been steep, already studying for the Certificate Level ACA exams and receiving internal training for corporate tax computations. There is a great focus on soft skills too within the apprenticeship, discussing with my coach how to go about improving these - in particular for client communication, teamwork and time management given the wide range of projects Im involved in.

I really enjoy the variety of work that I get each day, and can actually see the impact that I am making - even though I have only been at the firm a few months. The learning side is also great, receiving time off to complete study for exams and having a qualification at the end is really appealing.

The programme is mostly well organised and includes a lot of personal development. That being said, some bits like exam organisation are a bit slow (so it’s hard to plan annual leave etc) and there is a large amount of individual responsibility in ensuring all deadlines are met (eg for coach conversations, ethics discussions, training course scheduling etc)

There are multiple levels of support, from exam support and coaches in your individual team through to the Early Careers HR team and the team at Kaplan. I haven’t had many concerns yet, but when I have they have been answered quickly. We also get regular emails updating us on what support is available.

Kaplan has provided a lot of support for exams, both within classes and outside of them - including live chat support 7 days a week which is really helpful in the lead up to exams. My apprenticeship coach has also been very supportive and acknowledges the difficulties that COVID has brought to starting work virtually

The ACA qualification so far has helped me grasp key concepts required for the role, such as double entry accounting and basic knowledge of tax computations. It has also provided me with the correct mindset when approaching client needs to ensure that all possible options are analysed to get the best result.

Our team has regular social events, as well as a large focus on diversity events - discussing recent events as well as providing greater insight into different cultures / religions within the team. There are also various sport and games teams, although they are slightly less interactive at the moment due to working from home.

Yes

The training scheme provides invaluable knowledge for future careers, whether in the Big 4 or Industry. Despite a delayed start date, I have felt well supported throughout and feel they have acknowledged the situation well in starting from home - making sure to get us involved as possible from virtual Onboarding through to frequent socials

Make sure to read up on the key competencies that Deloitte look for in a candidate, and apply these to your own experiences - the assessment process is highly competency based. Also look at recent news to see what the future of work looks like - for example in tax that could include making tax digital, recent changes following the budget announcement etc