Corporate Assistant Review
at Forvis Mazars
Degree Apprenticeship
Accounting
London
Review Submitted: May 2023
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!
3/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
3/5
-
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 work in audit so the role typically includes conducting fieldwork and testing of balances to gain assurance over figures which make up the client's financial statements. On a day-to-day basis, I would usually spend time communicating with the clients (email, calls and in person meetings) to gain support and responses to queries over balances in their accounts. There is also a lot of internal communication with my own team to discuss approaches and solve problems in our audit work. Each audit there is usually a team work allocation and I would be responsible for carrying out the fieldwork in specific areas on the allocation and supporting any junior staff as well.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I really enjoy the role. It can be stressful and highly pressurised at times particularly balancing the work alongside studying for exams however overall I find the work interesting and the people are great. You have a real opportunity to prove yourself and gain a lot of responsibility in a short amount of time.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I came in to the job with very limited knowledge of business and finance based on my educational background so it has been a steep learning curve. Through the ACA exams I have taken and the job role itself you quickly pick up new technical skills (e.g. double entry bookkeeping) which are used every day in the role and applied to the work being carried out. I have also developed my skills using excel as this is fairly key in the role.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The programme is well organised with an exam pathway given to you on starting showing key dates and study bookings. Since there are large cohorts on the same pathways there are lots of people at work to go to with queries as well as the designated professional development teams we have.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
2/5
I receive a good amount of support from my line manager and many of my client manager's. They are appreciative of when you have exams approaching and you are not able to work late due to study requirements. There are designated drop ins run by my employer for any queries or help I might require.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
The training provider provides good study materials and online resources to help when working towards exams. The revision courses we have immediately before exams are key to exam success.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The qualification is key to better performance in the role. Through the exams you develop the technical knowledge and understanding to apply to the role and passing through the exams and qualifications has allowed me to approach more complex areas of work and understand a lot more within my day to day role.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
We have a lot of social events. Christmas parties, team drinks and meals, quarterly socials, summer sports socials and there are a lot of societies that run in the office after the working day. There are also options to get involved in networking such as graduate recruitment fairs and assessment centres for prospective joiners.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Forvis Mazars to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The culture and the people are great. I enjoy my role, I have learnt so much since joining and I look forward to going to work. In the role there are expectations on you to perform as an individual and you should be prepared to work long hours at times particularly when working towards deadlines.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Forvis Mazars?
Read around the company and role you are applying for and be aware of any topical issues surrounding the industry. Be prepared to work hard and put the hours in both in the role and when working towards the qualifications (ACA) it is not easy and takes a lot of commitment to pass the exams.
