Audit Apprentice Review

My main role involves working alongside a team to audit financial statements. This involves reviewing the financial statements businesses provide and giving reasonable assurance on the contents. As a second year apprentice my typical day could involve casting accounts, completing substantive testing, liaising with clients to obtain appropriate audit evidence and attending meetings.

As part of the apprenticeship I completed my Level 3 AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting and I am now working towards my Level 4 qualification. I have also developed my skills in using excel, as this is the main platform used for completing work. I have gained more basic skills such as setting up Teams meetings, using the company systems and producing professional Powerpoints.

The programme is a great opportunity for somebody looking to start a career in finance. I have very much enjoyed myself since I started in 2020 and although most of my work has been online and working from home everyone I have met/worked with has been lovely. The audit apprenticeship is a great way to build your audit knowledge as it starts off more basic and you build up and develop your knowledge from there.

The programme is relatively structured and there is a clear path from day one to the end of the programme. College classes are built into your timetable and I work on audit clients when I am not completing my training. There is a good balance between spending time at tuition and working on the job.

There is a lot of support available from my employer. As someone who has recently had to defer an exam, my employer has been fully supportive and allowing me the extra time off alter in the year to complete the exam and have been great at letting me fully focus on the work when I am attending tuition.

There is good support from the training provider when I am working towards my qualification. For every module I have had a tutor that I can contact with any questions and there is online forums that link up to the training provider to ask questions as well. There is also a dedicated team I can contact with any qualification queries.

The qualification I am working towards is integral to my role. The accounting principles I learn as part of my qualification help me make informed decisions when working on the job. The content crosses over into my everyday work and I can build upon the knowledge received during tuition and ask questions from more senior members of my team.

There are lots of extra-curricular activities to get involved in at my work. There is lots of networks we are able to join for hobbies/interests, such as different language groups or sports teams. More locally the office organises social events we can attend and there is wider networking events across the company that as a younger employee I have found extremely useful.

Yes

I find KPMG a great place to work. They are inclusive and diverse and their goals align with my own. The people I have met have been extremely friendly and helpful and have made me feel like I fit in. The work is challenging but there is a great support network within the office.

My main advice would be to be yourself, that is what will help you the most. KPMG want to hire you for what you can bring to the table so make sure your application shows everything you have to offer. It is important to share the same values as KPMG so familiarise yourself with these before applying and make sure the company is the right fit for you.