Business Apprentice Review

My role as a business apprentice consists of the completing the same tasks any first year associate at EY would do. My day to day routine is never the same, as it is mostly dependent on the client situation. You are given opportunities to lead projects and apprentices interact with senior members of staff everyday as well as clients. It is also useful to know that there is a fair bit of travelling involved,

I have become more confident over time as I have become more accustomed to interacting with clients. EY also provide you with audit training when you first start the apprenticeship so you are more familiar with audit terminology and processes. As an apprentice you also complete the ACA qualification. My role has taught me that teamwork is very important and to meet deadlines this is key.

The team that I work with are very helpful and supportive. There are quarterly feedback sessions to keep track of progress and anything that you may need improvement on. There are also regular socials, which could include dinners or activities such as bowling or laser tag, EY also promote having a good work/life balance which this promotes.

I think this is quite a new programme, especially in the midlands so some improvements could be made. For example I think that new BA's should be assigned buddies within the same department as them or if this is not possible in another department, so they have an idea of what to expect in the future. College time should be made closer to the exams, as there are quite a few months between studying time and the first exam. However I feel that during work, I am supported fully and those who are managers and above around me and fully approachable.

When starting at EY I was assigned a buddy as well as a counsellor. A counsellor is usually someone who is assistant manager and above. They will go over and support you in any issues you may be having. The HR team are also really good, in terms of booking annual leave, and updating your schedule, this could usually be done within a day which is quite useful.

Kaplan who is the training provider, give you full access to resources once you start at EY. This will include practice question, mini tests as well as an email who you can receive support from at any time, should you have any questions regarding work outside of college. EY's attitude towards exams, is that they should always be prioritised, so communication with managers is key when setting expectations for workload.

As I have not yet completed any of the qualification, I cant really comment on this matter. Although I do think that it gives you basic knowledge of accounting which is useful when dealing with the Financial Statements towards year end. I think in this course it is mainly experience that makes you more comfortable with completing your work rather than sitting exams

There are many social activities that occur regularly. EY also hosts formal dinners such as the Winter Ball, which is a good opportunity to socialise with other employees who you may not meet on a day to day basis, such as partners. EY also has networks for different sports as well as faiths, basically anything you could think of.

Yes

EY is very supportive and has an excellent work culture which you may not always find in other Big 4 Firms. The opportunities that EY offers you are endless, and there is regular training to ensure that you have up to date knowledge. There are also many benefits which EY offer you, such as private health/dental insurance, salary sacrifice car schemes etc.

I think that the most stressful part for me was the final interview due to the anticipation leading up to it. However it was quite relaxed. Tips from me would be to research EY's values and keep up to date with the news. The assessment centre was straight forward, don't be afraid to show your personality as this is what assessors look for.