Tax Assistant Review
at KPMG
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Accounting
Glasgow
Review Submitted: May 2022
Overall Rating
3.4 /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!
2/5
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Overview of Role
3/5
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Skills Development
3.8/5
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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:
2/5
Liaising with clients to request information and answering queries.
Using information to prepare annual tax returns for clients.
Onboarding new clients and setting them up on our systems.
Amending tax returns after they have been reviewed to correct errors or update for additional information received before they are issued to clients.
Using information to prepare annual tax returns for clients.
Onboarding new clients and setting them up on our systems.
Amending tax returns after they have been reviewed to correct errors or update for additional information received before they are issued to clients.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
The pandemic definitely changed the job role and the it has been difficult to build relationships with the team. Working from home becoming the norm has made learning a bit slower, particularly for a technical role.
In addition, work is very seasonal so there are times of the year where it is very busy and other periods where work is slow. There isn't really an in between which makes it more difficult to learn and improve.
In addition, work is very seasonal so there are times of the year where it is very busy and other periods where work is slow. There isn't really an in between which makes it more difficult to learn and improve.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
I've learned new technical tax information. As a result I have become more competent in dealing with technical queries from clients as opposed to just responding to requests for information.
Asides from some technical tax information, I have not learned a great deal of additional transferable skills in this role.
Asides from some technical tax information, I have not learned a great deal of additional transferable skills in this role.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The programme is well structured in the sense that exam, tuition and training dates are set in stone far in advance, and so this allows for me to accurately plan when it comes to my day job. It also allows me to plan any study leave or annual leave I should take off in advance.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
As the years have progressed, the support from the apprenticeship management team has become less and less. However, support from my immediate team is good and I have my own performance manager to raise any concerns to.
It can be difficult to feel supported by colleagues whom you have never met, but I can see this improving as restrictions ease.
It can be difficult to feel supported by colleagues whom you have never met, but I can see this improving as restrictions ease.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
My training provider offers a lot of support throughout the qualification and I find their resources very helpful. They offer a mixture of in person and online tuition. Both delivery methods are engaging and the tutors so far have been very helpful and willing to answer any questions. Although I have not needed it myself, the tutors have also offered to help students after class for private tutoring.
For personal reasons I am entitled to extra time, and this caused no issue with the training provider and my records/ exam time was updated promptly.
For personal reasons I am entitled to extra time, and this caused no issue with the training provider and my records/ exam time was updated promptly.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
The training courses/ exams are certainly relevant to my day job. I feel I am able to better understand the reasoning behind the way tax returns are completed. I feel I am also able to identify mistakes and errors more easily. Furthermore, I hope the training will help me answer technical queries from clients with little to no input from my peers as time goes on.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
As I am on a rotational programme, I have worked in multiple teams. Therefore what can be said for one team doesn't reflect the position of the whole company. The social life in previous teams (and pre- covid) was great and the team regularly socialised. This was encouraged through department organised events/ away days. This is not the case in my current team however, as I haven't been involved in anything outside of my day job to date.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend KPMG to a friend?
Yes
Why?
KPMG offers a wide range of roles as there are multiple departments and services. As the firm employs over 200,000 people worldwide, the networking opportunities are endless. This can open doors as well as just make the job generally more interesting. They also offer pathways for people from all sorts of backgrounds be it school leavers, graduates or experienced professionals.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to KPMG?
Be yourself! KPMG care just as much about the person you are and the interests you have as well as academia.
Collaboration is a key element of many of the job roles here, so if you show that you are capable to not only work, but thrive, in a team, you're already a great candidate.
Collaboration is a key element of many of the job roles here, so if you show that you are capable to not only work, but thrive, in a team, you're already a great candidate.
