Audit Apprentice Review

I am an Audit Apprentice who currently shadows more senior members of the firm scrutinising a client's financial performance, and giving a financial opinion for their next financial year. I also attend the BPP university working towards my various accounting qualifications - the end goal being the level 7 ACA qualification.

As it's currently what we call "busy season" (a period where we have significantly more work to complete), I'm learning to adapt to the high pressures and stresses of getting work done as quick as possible even if that involves staying at work until midnight. It's a difficult skill to learn but I believe this pressure at the deep end will subsequently make me learn better.

I've been quite unlucky with the audit that I have been assigned to, because the work needed to be completed in that team is far beyond my capability yet I'm still being asked to stay and complete work for them. Therefore, I'm not enjoying my programme in terms of the actual work I'm completing, but other aspects such as meeting some great people and receiving nice pieces of tech have been enjoyable.

Very well organised. My apprenticeship has been organised well right up until my last day on the programme, but the only thing that's not already planned are my next client engagements, which is expected as the department need to start assigning people when they are done with the client they are currently working on.

As mentioned before, it's busy season for me and my team so everyone has very limited time (even after working hours) and so whilst I'm completing their work, I'm not receiving any training on what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. So throughout my 5 months on this audit, unfortunately I have to say that I haven't learnt anywhere near the amount I should have, nor have I taken any value out of this experience so far.

As I have only been to the BPP university for a week, it has become a new experience in that everything is taught so much faster than what we would remember from school as an example. Therefore it's easier, and it has been for me, to be rushed and not pick up things properly. So the in-classroom support might not be amazing, but the forums they provide and out-of-class support are a better way of seeking help.

Accounting and audit don't really correlate with each other at all, therefore us apprentices will learn to audit at work, and accounting at university - there's no possibility of a cross-over. There are very small sections in an audit surrounding accounting where the accounting knowledge will be necessary, yet other than that, accounting and audit are mutually exclusive.

From my understanding, there are many different extra-curricular activities who reach out to a wide variety of people. There are various sports teams, social committees, professional events, etc... However someone like me in this current period wouldn't be able to utilise these different opportunities due to the lack of time, and the sole focus having to stay on the audit (which effects your mental health).

Yes

It's still a firm within the "Big 4", which is really good to say you've worked for them on your CV, but also the people you meet and the places you get to go to are amazing. The work may be very tough but you have high motivation then I'm sure this will be something for you.

The main pieces of advice I'd offer are: make to make sure you really understand your goals and ambitions because even though KPMG's schemes are tough, they will help you to achieve those goals. But also be ready to be challenged, and have the courage and motivation to keep going.