Associate Review
at EY
Degree Apprenticeship
Accounting, Finance
London
Review Submitted: March 2022
Overall Rating
4.3 /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
4/5
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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
I work on audits of financial institutions and banks, which can include various tasks such as tests of controls, documentation and substantive work. There is a high level of interaction with the client, be it through emails or calls, and there is a lot of team work involved as well.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I do enjoy the programme to a large extent, however there are some drawbacks in that the work can sometimes be stressful if there are pressing deadlines to meet, and we are expected to work very long hours without any form of overtime pay or other compensation. This then leads to a worse impact on personal wellbeing.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
The key skills which are improved are those related to team work and communication, especially as the role progresses and it is possible to take on more responsibility for work and certain areas. The softer skills are often very useful, there is also development of technical skills such as accounting.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme is very well organised as the apprenticeship scheme for school leavers has now been running for multiple years and therefore the support structure is well-established. It is also possible to interact with school leavers from other intake years through schemes such as buddies and the peer support group networks.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
2/5
There is more support from the team and other apprentices than from EY as a whole; although there are apprenticeship coaches, the overall environment is focused more on work rather than the apprenticeship experience. I have found that for our qualifications, we often receive a lot less time than what would be needed to effectively study and revise for the exams.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
The training provider is very good at providing support. I have contacted the tutors a few times and they are always willing to help answer any questions, although the response from the general mailbox can be slow. There is also a good selection of resources online which is helpful for additional review.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
What I have learned in my qualification so far has been very useful, especially as it links closely with the day-to-day work I do. Gaining a greater technical understanding of the work I perform has helped me interact more effectively and efficiently with clients, which in turn helps me produce better results.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There is a large number of communities and events to get involved with, such as the Women's Network, the UK Arts Club and various sports teams such as netball and badminton. Professional networking events do also occur, however this is mostly in relation to the teams worked on than any wider events.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend EY to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Obtaining the professional qualification and having a full-time professional job, especially when only starting as a school leaver, opens a great many doors and leads to a large number of opportunities very early on in the career. The early exposure to what such a job entails is also very beneficial.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to EY?
I would advise others to be aware of what their role may entail, as different departments work on different sectors and the hours and type of work may vary. It is also important to consider whether such an apprenticeship is right for you, as the duration of the programme is very long.
