Audit Apprentice Review
at KPMG
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Accounting
London
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
3.9 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.6/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
As an audit apprentice, I work in teams to gain comfort over the financial statements/accounts of the clients that we work with. We tend to start the day with meetings in the morning (on Microsoft Teams due to remote working). Most of your time as a first year audit apprentice will be spent doing substantive testing and documenting results of the testing performed, as well as exchanging emails and having calls with clients regarding queries that the team may have. Over time, you will become more involved in more complex areas of the audit, you will mostly play a supportive role to the rest of the team early on as an auditor.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
Overall, the programme is faily enjoyable and it is definitely not your typical 9-5 job. Each day will have it's own challenges and you will come across many different situations as an audit apprentice (good and bad). The busy periods are definitely not enjoyable when deadlines are near and workload is high, it can become stressful but it is simply part of the job. The tuition we receieve is really good and the tutors are very supportive, additionally, all of the internal training has been good so far- everyone gets along well and people are happy to help you out.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I've developed a number of different skills since I started the apprenticeship last year. The key skills I've developed:
-Communication: learning business writing and understanding how to phrase emails/calls with clients.
-Teamworking: understanding how to work with others effectively, which has been something more challenging whilst working remotely.
-Software: I quickly learned a lot of different excel skills and shortcuts in a really short period of time, other team members are very supportive and good mentors.
-Communication: learning business writing and understanding how to phrase emails/calls with clients.
-Teamworking: understanding how to work with others effectively, which has been something more challenging whilst working remotely.
-Software: I quickly learned a lot of different excel skills and shortcuts in a really short period of time, other team members are very supportive and good mentors.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
Initially, as an audit apprentice - your programme is very well structured as you will have dedicated study/training blocks, then you will move onto client work. In my opinion, I think that there could be more time dedicated to off-the-job learning, as it can be faily difficult to fit in when doing client work full-time.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
There is a lot of support and resources from KPMG, not to mention that you are paid a salary and all studies and exams are sponsored - so you don't have to go into debt for a qualification! There are a number of places that you can go if you want support in relation to mental health as well as having contacts available for any issues/questions you may have along the way. When you join, you will also be dedicated a buddy, which is really comforting when starting the apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
BPP, the training provider, have a portal which has recorded lectures and other resources to help you out with your studies. They are really useful and you will pass you exams easily if you use them! You can also reach out to tutors for support if there are any topics that you are unsure on. No complaints from me so far!
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I've just completed my first qualification on this apprenticeship, AAT level 3, which has been a good stepping stone into the world of accounting, you will be able to transfer some of this knowledge to some of the work that you perform as an auditor, epecially with regards to understanding the financial statements. As you progress through the apprenticeship, you will cover more specific modules that apply more directly to the work that we do as auditors.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
With relation to social activities at the time of writing, there isn't too much going on due to social distancing measures and everyone working from home, but efforts are being made to entertain teams such as having social events on fridays where you might do quizzes and play games, etc. There are plenty of opportunities for you to develop professional skills as well as volunteering, and I imagine this will only improve as society continues to open up.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend KPMG to a friend?
Yes
Why?
They have a great programme for someone who knows that they want to have a career in accounting, and the people who work at the firm are super friendly and helpful. I've gained a lot of knowledge in a short period of time and I believe that it's a really great opportunity to work for one of the top accounting firms in the world.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to KPMG?
Before applying, do your research into the company and try to get a base knowledge of accounting- to see if it is actually something that you are interested in and can pick up relatively quickly. Also, it would be worth getting an understanding of what audit actually entails to ensure you know what job you are applying for, you won't want to get any surprises for not doing your research before having a career in the accounting space.
