Assurance Associate Review

Depending on the period in a particular client's financial year, my day-to-day role involves understanding changes to the client's control system, industry, systems and structure. I communicate with the client to walk through their main accounts' processes and IT applications. I audit clients' accounts by testing that their accounting practices are correct and that they are appropriately recording figures onto their balance sheet and income statements.

I have learned so many new skills in the past 9 months at EY. The mixture and ratio of college : work is perfectly balanced (although very intense) so that we are learning new accounting practices and then applying this knowledge in the working environment through reviewing and auditing clients' financial statements. Interpersonal and professional skills are constantly being refined and nursed as I work with various internal and external stakeholders.

I knew I always wanted to be in an intense, fast-paced environment where the individuals around me are keen to grow, learn, and develop. I want to be a successful Chartered Accountant, and EY are really enabling me to become that. I love the Graduate Scheme at EY and I am so happy to be here. This is not to say it doesn't come with its challenges - I have felt overwhelmed and very stressed at certain points, but at the end of the day I am learning and growing at a speed where this cannot be avoided. If you are willing to work hard and want to test yourself in a great environment, EY is the place to start your career :)

The structure of college to work back to college back to work is very well structured in the sense that you can speak to older years and they can exactly explain to you what the next year or two will look like. It is nice if you are organised and want to be able to fully prepare for the next batch of college, or decide when to take holiday etc. At the same time, being such a large organisation, the structure of the induction programme itself could have been better organised and more integrated between the different departments within the London office.

There is support if you require it, especially when it comes to studying. However, certain leadership personnel within different client teams will manage their teams, time, and workload very differently. It can be a shock when moving into a team that wants you to work a lot later or fill a lot more of your time in the day when you are new to the firm.

This needs to be improved. It is difficult because we are working towards an ICAS qualification, being taught by BPP, and working for EY. There are so many parties involved that sometimes you have no idea who you are supposed to contact when you need support regarding abc. There should be a manual which details who to contact from each provider in order to get different types of information.

Massively helpful. Both work in sync because the more you work, the more you consolidate your knowledge from college. The more you study in college, the more you are prepared to better understand different accounting practices or reporting standards of various clients. It is very helpful and I could not imagine improving in my role without studying towards becoming a CA.

there are lots, but in your first year I think it is super important to focus on passing exams, getting used to being in a working environment, and just learning how to do your job. I am interested in lots of bits and bobs that EY has to offer and will most certainly look into getting involved in the coming year, however, work and exams will always be my priority. The socials are great and can be involved team-by-team, however it is utterly appalling to me that EY London do not host a firm-wide Christmas party for us. We work so hard, especially in busy season, and to not be offered a Christmas party is pretty underwhelming as EY takes pride in their company culture.

Yes

there is no better place to start your career

prepare for hard work and potentially tears - becoming a CA is not easy, but it is so very interesting and rewarding. If you want to do well, you will. There are so many opportunities here to succeed, and you will meet some incredibly inspiring human beings.