Staff/Assistant Review

I am a Staff/Assistant within Wealth and Asset Management Assurance. I work on multiple clients and therefore multiple different teams and personnel giving me great exposure to the whole department and firm as a whole. As I work on different types of clients, my daily tasks and responsibilities vary from carrying out testing with clients to completing planning documents to trying to solve discrepancies between our calculations and the clients. Each day is different and that is why I love my job.

I have really developed my professionalism since starting here and I have learnt a lot more about the world of work as a whole. I have been on many training courses and have undertook on the job training with various different team members. So far I have not obtained any qualifications however I am studying for my Accounting exam which will be my first exam leading towards my ACA chartered accountant qualification. The key skills I have learnt with regards to my job include professional skepticism, using my initiative, solving audit differences, gaining confidence with clients and team members and also pushing myself to go above and beyond, for example taking on work experience students and trekking across the Sahara desert for our EY Foundation charity.

I play for the EY Hockey Team which has introduced me to many different people from all over the firm. I love sport and so it is nice to be given that opportunity to embed it within your work life. I think a good work life balance is important in order to achieve success. I love working with different people on different clients so that my day to day tasks are never the same! I love the culture of EY with its socials, feedback cycles, buddy system and charity treks - one of which I have participated in. I never expected accountancy to be as fun as it is, as accountants seem to have a reputation however I love EY as a firm and I feel really embedded into the department. Being one of the youngest here has not resulted in me being treated any different and that is what I love most.

I think the regular feedback meetings and peer group meetings offer everyone a chance to correct anything that they feel isn't going well but also gives people a chance to tell you what you are doing right. As a staff/assistant I feel very confident in asking for feedback and people are always willing to give you the time of day to give you it, even at manager level and above. EY are very good at giving feedback, praise and thanks which always makes what you do worth it. You are well supported in every aspect of your job, everyone wants you to succeed and therefore I feel valued.

We started the programme with 7 days at Kaplan (college) learning the contents of the Accountancy exam. We then started work for a few weeks before attending some internal training around what we will be doing on a day-to-day basis. We were introduced to a Buddy who is the year above us and we also were given a counsellor who is at a manager level and represents us at our feedback meetings. The support and training we were exposed to was very good and well organised. Our exams are not until May despite our college being back in September, this is both an advantage (giving us time to settle in to work) and a disadvantage (as we have busy season inbetween those two months which makes revision impossible as we are working 50 hour weeks). I would have preferred to do my exam within a month after college to prevent the knowledge learnt at college being washed away over time. I feel the time gap between the first college and exam is more of a disadvantage which is why I have rated the structure a 7.

Our training provider is Kaplan. Since college we have recievd revision reminders and a revision timetable. The support to help us through our exams is very good, we have question banks, kaplan study manuals and lesson plans, online tests and lessons etc. The support with regards to our exams is very consitent and positive. You are not abondoned despite college being in September and the exam being in May. We also have 2 revision days planned with the college before the exam which should be productive.

There is a real positive environment at EY around supporting those who have just started in all aspects; exams, work/life balance, on the job training, charity work, social committee's and sporting teams. We are also able to join society's that support women, different ethnic backgrounds/cultures, LGBT and religion. EY have a very positive attitude towards Diversity and Inclusiveness and this shows throughout every aspect of the firm.

The salary is very good in relation to matching our costs of living. I am fortunate as I live relatively close to the office (Essex) and so I just spend an hour on trains in the morning to get me to work. Therefore I do not have very expensive costs of living except paying for travel which is around £60 a week. Lunches are also expensive however this cost can be reduced if you were to make your lunches from home. I feel that if you are money smart, you can enjoy a very nice lifestyle on the salary we are on.

The firm offer so much more than just a job. I have recently crossed the Sahara Desert with EY, rasising over £1,800 for charity and meeting 46 other wonderful EY employees. I am also a member of the department's social committee which gives me great exposure and responsibility. I am also a member of the EY hockey team which is mixed, enabling me to build networks around the firm. When I am not working I tend to do most of my leisure activities at home with my local gym and hockey club. The work socials make a nice change of scenery though as we are all able to go out as a department in London where drinks are paid for which makes going out in London more achievable. I think it would be nice if we had a work gym as an hour break of an evening during busy season would be nice to exercise as otherwise, late night at works can lead to you not being able to maintain your fitness.

Yes

Because I feel EY are very inclusive and offer a lot more than just a job. The firm allows you to progress to partner should you wish to, you just have to work hard and keep being promoted and being a school leaver will never hold you back with regards to this. It is a competitive salary and a great way of life. The hours can sometimes be long but it is always worth it for the recognition you receieve for it and the perks like paid for dinner and the occasional team social as a congratulations you have finished the audit.

I would say just be yourself. Everyone who helps you with the process wants you to suceed so just ask lots of questions and get to know them all. The firm is either made for you or it isn't so try to find out as much as possible from the people you are exposed to during the application process - be inquisitive! When it comes to the assessment centre just make sure you encourage everyone to get involve - this is a good trait of a team leader however do not take control, it is important to not be overpowering. With regards to interviews I would say you can never to enough preperation involving researching every asepct of the company. Your interviews are usually with a partner and they love a smart conversation about the firm as they are proud to be working here. I would also say that you should remember their name and get in touch at a later date through Linked in - this is something I regret not doing.