Auditor Review

I work in audit providing services to an array of clients. Day to day I am speaking with clients and analysing their data in order to support their claims and financial statements. Some days I work on client sites and others in my office.

I have learnt many new skills since working here. These are mainly in relation to audit and accounting, however with the backing of my exams I have been able to excel in areas that I previously had minimal exposure to.

The programme is very challenging and pushes my boundaries. The satisfaction I receive from passing exams is great, however this does not come without many challenges. Unfortunately the difficulty and stress elements sometimes outweigh the positives, therefore it would be difficult to say I wholeheartedly enjoy the programme.

The structure is quite rigid and easy to follow. We have exams in regular patterns to allow time to progress in knowledge and within the firm. The organisation for exams is good, however the organisation for the other activities is poor and is often not executed well.

We receive support in terms of study days and are able to take additional leave if required to help our progress. The firm however does add undue stress and pressure through threatening dismissal if we are to fail the same exam twice.

We receive regular support in the form of calls, training days, and also in the form of revision courses on the run up to our exams. There are very helpful and I feel without these I would not be able to progress in my career.

The qualification itself helps a lot with my role. I learn skills in exams that I am then able to practically transfer to my job. This is especially helpful in terms of accounting treatments of items which are often complicated to learn from scratch.

Yes, there are always social activities hosted once every month. I also work on this social committee. Additionally, there are opportunities to go to ICAEW networking events, and also to play sports with fellow employees on a weekly basis (football/netball).

Yes

The firm is very friendly and welcoming of all walks of life. The culture of the firm is great and everyone is happy to assist, no matter the role or ability. Additionally, everyone is treated the same, with no set offices or desks, making communication and collaboration more free.

Be yourself and don't be afraid to showcase your personality traits that make you stand out. Everyone here is very friendly and hardworking. But be prepared to be put through a lot of work, especially in busy seasons.