Corporate ssistantA Review
at Forvis Mazars
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Accounting
Birmingham
Review Submitted: May 2023
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!
4/5
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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
Working as part of a team to audit entities in the privately owned business sector. This focuses on areas such as cash, expenditure, revenue, stock and payroll. Things I do include picking and processing samples, reconciling bank statements and performing audit stocktakes.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I very much enjoy the programme. the exams are difficult and take a high level of time management to fit in revising around a 9-5 job but I enjoy the challenge. The day to day job also gives me a fine balance of challenging myself and having real responsibility, whilst also having an ample amount of support from more senior colleagues.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learnt and developed many new skills. I had a level of IT ability before starting at Mazars but this has greatly improved during my time at the firm, particularly the use of keyboard short cuts and using. I have learnt many new audit processes that I had no prior knowledge such as using a sample size calculator.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The programme is well organised. Exam revision has been booked in appropriately before each set of exams I've had and it has been clear since the first week what my responsibilities are within the firm. Occasionally there has been slight lack of communication between departments, particularly when I was deferring some exams for health reasons. but this was quickly resolved once I became aware.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I have the right amount of support from my employer. Whilst it is nice to have a good level of responsibility and to be able to manage my own time, there is always support there when required. BPP are easy to contact when the issue is study related and in work the support network is vast with people both on the job and line managers more than willing to help.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
The BPP courses are very well put together to prepare you for an exam. it is easier to get support when college is taught in person rather than but I know this may be a personal preference as some people I started with have an opposing opinion.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I would say that the qualification I am undertaking helps me to understand my job role more in depth. the greater my accounting knowledge becomes by passing the exams, the greater I understand why certain areas are tested in audit and why it is necessary to carry out certain procedures.
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
Mazars has a very good social environment. I have attended many post work socials such as at a ping pong bar, pub quizzes and pizza nights. these socials have served as a great opportunity to meet many people in the office, which i think has a positive affect when you end up working with them on an audit.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Forvis Mazars to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Whilst being a reputable top ten accounting firm which is great to have on a CV, it is also a really friendly, vibrant and diverse place to work. I would recommend the firm to anyone who is numerically minded, seeks to challenge themselves but also values a work life balance and a friendly culture.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Forvis Mazars?
Do what you can to be yourself during the interview process, Mazars values personalities and doesn't treat people just as a number
