Business Apprentice (Audit) Review

I am a business apprentice at EY, working out of the Luton office in the GPS team (Government and Public Sector). I am part of teams that audit many local authorities and government bodies. My day varies all the time, where I am asked to do different tasks to help progress the audit, which could be testing samples, or having calls with our clients to understand their processes.

I have certainly developed communication skills, through talking with the teams I am a part of, and the clients I engage with. Audit has also helped me think more critically too, which helps when solving problems and making decisions, with the help of the coaching delivered by more senior members of the team.

I enjoy it very much, as the GPS team at the Luton office are great people to work with, and many of them are excellent coaches who will take the time out of their day to help you with anything you need, and help you develop your understanding of what we do.

There is a good mix of client work and college, where the client work helps you apply what you learn in college to your day to day work. The induction we went through was good, we got to meet some people and listen to talks from some of the highest people at EY.

We are all given a Counsellor who will check in on you and is always a first point of call if you are stuck with anything at all or need help with work or non-work problems. As mentioned before, I receive coaching as well from the rest of my team which helps me massively in my development.

We are assigned a tutor for our class, which is good, and we are sent course notes and question banks for our exams. There is also an interactive website where you can re-watch lectures and practice questions. However, sometimes the responsibility is down to you, to learn some of the course in your own time, when the content is large.

I feel that the order of exams I am doing has hindered me a bit, but the exams I have done have helped me massively, mainly understanding why we do what we do and how it is used. I think it can only get more relevant as I carry on to the next exams.

There are many extra curricular activities, with office wide social events being held regularly, and many networks can be joined as well. Our office also organizes a five a side football match every couple of weeks for anyone to come along and play, which I usually go to all the time to meet everyone from other teams in the office.

Yes

I would say that the support is the main reason I would recommend EY to a friend, there is always someone you can ask for help, whether you are working together at that point or not. Also, there is flexibility in the sense of working hours, and working from home or the office.

Just be yourself when applying, in the interviews and assessment centers. Prepare well for all of your interviews, and always ask questions, even if you think its a stupid question. Do not try and act like you know everything either, as said earlier, be yourself and you will be fine