Audit Assistant Review

On a day to day basis, I am out at clients as either part of planning or the execution of an audit. As an assistant, my role at planning involves talking to the client and grasping an understanding of their control systems and processes. At fieldwork, we test the figures in the financial statements to ensure that the figures stated in the accounts are correct.

Since starting, I have developed my communication skills a considerable amount. Being out on site at a client, and engaging with different types of businesses has helped me to develop my confidence in conversing with them. My knowledge of accounting has also significantly improved since starting, both through carrying out my job on a day to day basis, and also doing my studying.

I thoroughly enjoy my programme, the audit team that I work within are all great, and we do plenty of social events so getting to know everyone was easy. My qualification involves watching online lectures where we can ask the lecturer questions and things as we go along, which I think is a really good way to learn as it is really interactive. And the role of an audit assistant itself is great to, I've been to so many different clients from charities to AIM listed companies, the variety has been great and I have been able to learn about so many different businesses.

The structure is pretty good, the first few weeks compromised of a large number of training courses down in London, which was pretty good as it was the entire firm so we got to meet people from the other offices who were just starting too. The qualification side is good aswell, having a clear path to becoming fully qualified as a target to work through during my career is a great help.

All of the support is there, whether it be for exams, work related or person issues, there is someone we can talk to. The team are great for helping me with my studies, and if I have any questions their more than happy at lunch or at the end of the day to run through them and make sure I have a firm understanding.

Plenty, we do not get any specific study leave, but I have always been able to take one or two days off before my exams just to give me that bit of time to prepare for them. And the team is all really knowledgeable, I've never struggled to get help with a question I may have so its been great.

I think the qualification has helped me to understand the work I do on a day to day basis better, I think before I started the AAT qualification I maybe didn't quite understand a lot of the terminology, where as now I find it really helpful. I haven't really done any audit specific work in my studies, however this will come in further down the line and be a great help.

As a team we do try to have a social get together on a regular basis, I was lucky enough to attend a few of these before I started which was great and meant on my first day I did know a few people. There is also regional events throughout the year which involve the entire firm, which are really good as they allow you to meet people from other offices.

Yes

The support is great, you're never left stranded on your own without knowing what to do. They are great at communicating before you start, and ensure that if you have any queries that they are answered. And they do really care about you and want you to pass your exams and provide all of the support they can. The work is also really interesting, most of the clients are mid size firms so you see a great variety and you're not just stuck in one place the whole time.

Do your research, make sure you know a background to the firm before applying or attending any interviews etc. Also the job, make sure you know what the role is before you apply, and come to interviews prepared with questions to help you gain further understanding, from my experiences at assessment centres, both as an applicant and now when I go in to speak to the applicants, a lot of people have applied just because they think accountancy is the way to go, but they don't really know what they have applied for.