Assurance Associate Review

As i work in Audit, my day to day role generally involves testing different risk areas of the audit. Depending on the client, the risk areas will be different as different client have different significant risks. This could involve cash testing, bank testing, investment valuation and more. It differs day to day, but not signficantly.

Being in a client centric role, i have become more confident in dealing with clients face to face, via email and on the phone. Additionally due to the nature of the role, i have become skeptic on responses from the client which helps me to become better at my work,

The programme is difficult but has a large reward at the end. This is the qualification that you obtain as well as the many years of practical work experience. It can be difficult managing work deadlines with studies but the challenge makes you better at managing conflicts later in your professional life.

The programme is very standardised due to EY being such a large organisation. Exam dates and college is booked in well in advance in our internal trackers. This helps us to plan our work and holidays well in advance to prevent any clashes. The student team is also at hand to help with any issues.

EY has various routes of support. This includes an apprentice coach, your engagement team, the student recruitment team and your counsellor. This allows for you to obtain the relevant support where needed from the right person. Overall, in my experience my counsellor has been the key form of support throughout my apprenticeship.

Kaplan is the training provider for our studies. Kaplan also has various forms of support to hand such as student support which helps with any questions you may have in relation to specific exam question or queries. In addition to this, the tutor can also help with anything that you struggle with.

The ACA is a broad subject covering a range of issues in accounting and finance. As my role is in Audit, not all aspects is relevant to my day to day work. Some aspects and papers have helped me to understand my work and ask better questions to my clients at work.

There are many communities at EY that people can join. There is a community for everyone and anyone. The best aspect is that it is inclusive and anyone can join any community. I myself am part of a race community and take part in events that the community hold throughout the year.

Yes

I would recommend EY to a friend due to the career growth opportunities it possesses. EY can accelerate your career due to the fact it is a large organization and is part of the big 4. Due to its size, there are many networking opportunities and likeminded people to meet with.

It is important to do research on the area of the business you are applying for. Competition is tough, so it is important to showcase your interest during your application and interviews in order to stand out from the crowd. Make sure to read the latest information in the news concerning EY to be up to date with the latest information.