Associate Client Advisor Review

I prepare monthly management accounts for clients as well as fulfil monthly bookkeeping services and provide accounting advice. In a more detailed sense, my work involved aged payables and aged receivables processing and reviews, bank reconciliations and journal posting of payroll costs, prepayments and accruals. I also contribute towards the preparation of quarterly VAT returns.

I have learned tons of new skills since starting the role. I have massively improved upon my excel and accounting skills, with technical knowledge and practical experience in both areas furthering my development in those skills. My general skills such as teamwork, time management and Microsoft office have all also improved a lot during my work.

I do enjoy the work a lot, I like the challenge that accounting has generally, as there are often new issues/challenges that come up during the work that tests my knowledge of the client and accounting principles in general. There is also an element of critical evaluation of the processes we undertake in the team, with a goal of improving efficiency, which I enjoy a lot.

My programme seems well structured, progression in the firm is clearly linked with exam success and development through the apprenticeship, and the work gradually shifts away from the bookkeeping work I do currently towards more senior level work (involved in corporate reporting and client facing responsibilities). This is an exciting prospect and progression is clearly laid out.

I receive quite a bit of support from my employer on exams in particular, there is perhaps less mention on the difficulties of time management between studying and working full time, which I would like to see highlighted by more senior members of the firm - although this is not crucial either, I do feel adequately supported.

We receive quite a lot of support from our training provider in the build up to exams, although I wish the support system began earlier than the current system (we normally are given support around 6 weeks before the exam start, I think if we got the resources/support a bit earlier it may improve exam results).

This can be quite hit or miss depending on which area of the course I am studying towards. I recently sat a Law exam which was not overly useful for the work I undertake, the accounting exams have been much more useful in further developing my skills at work in reality.

My office is the smaller office of the two we have in London, therefore in my office there are perhaps less opportunities for this than in the larger office by default. However, my firm does an excellent job at providing extra-curricular events and activities to take part in, including professional and social activities.

Yes

Our firm culture is very relaxed, friendly and inclusive, we have higher pass rates in the exams because of this. Because apprentices have additional study on top of work, the firm culture is excellent in supporting us through the difficulties of exams and study and managing your time between both.

Be honest about your experiences you have had at previous roles/academic institutions, including negative experiences. Mazars is a firm focused on innovation and continuous improvement, we want to hear the problems in systems and see if we can rectify those in our own processes - showing an active engagement in this area of our culture may benefit you in the application stage!