360 apprentice Review
at KPMG
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Accounting
Canary Wharf
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
3.5 /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
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Overview of Role
3/5
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Skills Development
3.2/5
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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:
3/5
I am currently placed in Forensic consulting in the I&C team investigating Fraud and AML. My daily acitivities mostly revolve around Excel. I review transactions and upload data onto Excel databases. Currently I am sorting an Excel database, to clarify which transactions are related to an entity of interest. I also help QA memos before they are sent out to a client. I am envolved on the project calls which i always enioy.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I really enjoy the different projects my programme rotation offers. I never imagined I'd be involved on such large confidential cases which is exciting! Occassionally i find certain tasks mundane and repititive, but i believe this is to expected in any role. This was especially the case when i first joined the firm and most of my tasks were very similar. When there is lots of client work to complete I enjoy being busy and feeling I am contributing to the team.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
As a school leaver, I joined the firm with very limited Excel knowledge (if any). I was only able to perform basic tasks on Excel (eg addition etc). Since joining the firm I have worked on Excel solidly and therefore I have 'learnt on the job'. Upon joining the firm I was enrolled onto a intermediate Excel training course, however I believe for school leavers (who havent done Excel at university), a beginners course would have been more helpful.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
I think on the whole the programme is well structured. I have not experienced large quantities of time unassigned and I have always been busy on projects. Due to government guidelines 20% of our working hours have to contribute to OTJL. On the whole i believe the programme leaves me to track to achive this, however, it mostly depends on the client work at hand.
Recently however, disappointingly my programme has recently been changed to involve different rotations. In that aspect i believe the structure could have better.
Recently however, disappointingly my programme has recently been changed to involve different rotations. In that aspect i believe the structure could have better.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
Working through a pandemic has been a challenging time period for all. Joining a new firm, straight out of school was particularly challenging. I was well supported by the firm. All my colleagues were on hand if needed.
As a firm wide initiative i believe the firm has acted well. They frequently send out wellbeing support contacts and have recently implemented a new policy, which means that, if our required working hours have been completed by lunch time on Friday, we can take an early weekend.
As a firm wide initiative i believe the firm has acted well. They frequently send out wellbeing support contacts and have recently implemented a new policy, which means that, if our required working hours have been completed by lunch time on Friday, we can take an early weekend.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
On the whole i have had a good experience. Having never done accounting before i initially found the content very challenging. My first tutor was not very supportive, however, for the last few days of our course my group was given a new tutor, which I found more beneficial. Bar my initial bad experience, all the tutors I have had have been very supportive and always helpful when answering my questions. I find the achievement ladder steps very useful. My only area I would suggest coud be improved is the volume of questions provided. I believe I would benefit from having a larger question bank.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
I believe that having some basic accounting knowledge has definitely been useful in my role. As one of my daily roles is transaction review I have used the knowledge i was taught in my bookkeeping exam fairly frequently. Athough I havent specifically used what i have been taught for my other exams in my role I think having some background knowledge has been useful.
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
As I joined the firm during the pandemic I am yet to go to the office, so i think it's been tricker to be involved with social events and meet people. I was have attended a few virtual department social events, for example a quiz at christmas time! I have joined the womens network and attend the talks, but have not been involved in further networking events. I hope to join a sports team when Covid allows!
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend KPMG to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Every KPMG employee I have worked with has been extremely helpful and friendly. If I have a question I know I am able to ask anybody and they will be willing to help, despite their role/ how senior they are. I believe the range of departments allows individuals to descover exactly where their passion lies.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to KPMG?
To go for it! Apply for all opportunities you think you would be interested in, and most importantly be passionate. It is much better to put yourself out there for new roles, and place yourself out of your comfort zone than to stay in an area you are comfortable in, otherwise you will never develop.
