Monitoring Trustee Review

As a monitoring trustee, we work on large merger & acquisition cases which are being investigated by world wide competition authorities. We work to a set on 'commitments' which are prescribed by the legal authority. For example, this may be undertaking financial analysis of funding requirements, assessing possible routes for divestiture.

I have been able to apply my ACA studies in my role by undertaking financial analysis, assessment of the exchange of tax documents, navigate complex business disagreements between the parties, presentations to the company. I have also improved my client facing skills by attending several networking events with large law firms to win cases.

I think my programme has provided a lot of flexibility. I used to work in a different team, Risk Consulting. In this team I worked at a brokerage as an auditor which is an experience I didn't think I would get. When I came back from secondment, I wanted to try something new so now I work in a different sector.

I think the programme is well structured since you tend to just stay in one team. However, I am sure for teams who rotate I think this will be slightly more complex and not well structured. In all, if you seek the opportunity and express interest yourself, then you will get what you want out of it.

Mazars have been very supportive all in all. Luckily to date I have not had too many issues - however when I had to change the structure of my exams as I am dyslexic / other learning issues, they were very obliging and were able to change my pathway to what I needed.

We get 15 days of study leave over the period. I don't think they are overall supportive in terms of mental health and work effort. I think it can vary significantly team to team. I am lucky to have a good line manager who is understanding however I have heard of the contrary.

In my role as montioring trustee, is the first time I've felt that I can really use my ACA. That being said, I am also significantly further through my ACA now and have passed the professional stage so perhaps this is why. it has given me a broader understanding of the finance industry.

To be honest, the ACA takes up so much of my free time that when I am revising I have no time. But when I am not, there are lots of social activities - not that I partake. I do however go to lots of networking events for my team to win cases.

Yes

I think it is a very accepting organisation, they respect you and the time that you work (at least in my team). The office is really young and has a good atmosphere. There is lots of scope to move team and get a wider range of opportunities. They also have offices worldwide.

The advice I would give is, try to really understand the role you are going into before you apply. This can be hard as the job descriptions are vague but often the role can seem very different to what you thought. You don't want to be stuck in a role that you don't want to pursue.