Corporate Assistant - Industry & Services Review
at Forvis Mazars
Degree Apprenticeship
Audit
London
Review Submitted: February 2025
Overall Rating
4.7 /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!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
I am very much enjoying my apprenticeship at Forvis Mazars. Learning here is so much better than uni. You get to learn things that are directly relatable to the job you are doing, so there is a lot of reinforcing 'college knowledge' with practical experience, and vice versa.
The content is a lot more wide-ranging than I expected, with topics covering management, law and tax as well as accounting and assurance (audit). The exams are definitely not easy, but you are very well supported every step of the way. And the sense of achievement after passing exams is priceless!
I'm also enjoying working for Forvis Mazars because it's large enough to have a real presence in the UK and abroad, but small enough to encourage a lot of collaborative working. The one thing I would say is that it's not always easy to balance work and study, and that the level of on-the-job coaching you get will vary from client to client. But it's very easy to quickly build a broad network of mentors and colleagues that are all super friendly and (usually) happy to help!
The content is a lot more wide-ranging than I expected, with topics covering management, law and tax as well as accounting and assurance (audit). The exams are definitely not easy, but you are very well supported every step of the way. And the sense of achievement after passing exams is priceless!
I'm also enjoying working for Forvis Mazars because it's large enough to have a real presence in the UK and abroad, but small enough to encourage a lot of collaborative working. The one thing I would say is that it's not always easy to balance work and study, and that the level of on-the-job coaching you get will vary from client to client. But it's very easy to quickly build a broad network of mentors and colleagues that are all super friendly and (usually) happy to help!
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I am very much enjoying my apprenticeship at Forvis Mazars. Learning here is so much better than uni. You get to learn things that are directly relatable to the job you are doing, so there is a lot of reinforcing 'college knowledge' with practical experience, and vice versa.
The content is a lot more wide-ranging than I expected, with topics covering management, law and tax as well as accounting and assurance (audit). The exams are definitely not easy, but you are very well supported every step of the way. And the sense of achievement after passing exams is priceless!
I'm also enjoying working for Forvis Mazars because it's large enough to have a real presence in the UK and abroad, but small enough to encourage a lot of collaborative working. The one thing I would say is that it's not always easy to balance work and study, and that the level of on-the-job coaching you get will vary from client to client. But it's very easy to quickly build a broad network of mentors and colleagues that are all super friendly and (usually) happy to help!
The content is a lot more wide-ranging than I expected, with topics covering management, law and tax as well as accounting and assurance (audit). The exams are definitely not easy, but you are very well supported every step of the way. And the sense of achievement after passing exams is priceless!
I'm also enjoying working for Forvis Mazars because it's large enough to have a real presence in the UK and abroad, but small enough to encourage a lot of collaborative working. The one thing I would say is that it's not always easy to balance work and study, and that the level of on-the-job coaching you get will vary from client to client. But it's very easy to quickly build a broad network of mentors and colleagues that are all super friendly and (usually) happy to help!
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have developed accounting skills, got my debits and credits in. I also enjoyed the 'Management information' paper, where you learn about the different ways to calculate cost and expected profit, which is great for running/starting a business!
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme is pretty well structured. We are given all the dates of our exams beforehand, so it helps to plan out our year and book holidays and study leave. There is a bit more admin than I think is necessary, but a lot of it is to do with satisfying government criteria for apprenticeships. So expect sitting through a number of sustainability and British values courses! I also have to complete an entire course to prove to BPP or the UK government that I can speak English!
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a lot of support. You are allocated a buddy, a line manager, there is also a separate mentor scheme, BPP reach out to you, you also develop a network of people through the different social activities... The list goes on!
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
There is a set of formal audit training done on behalf of Forvis Mazars. It covers a lot of the day to day things that isn't in the BPP courses.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
It helps a lot! Since most people have completed the ACA in the firm, it is great to work on the basis of a shared learning experience. So not only the course literally teaches you how to do your job, but where it doesn't, you are very much encouraged to ask anyone you know for help. No judgment if you don't know.
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
Yes I was impressed at the amount of networks available, especially for religious and social causes like social mobility and LGBTQ. I'm part of the chess club, and I hear the badminton club is the most active.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Forvis Mazars to a friend?
Yes
Why?
For the opportunities to advance your career with academic knowledge and real-world experience.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Forvis Mazars?
Go for it! We are just about to launch a UK-wide strategy for the next 4 years, which will surely involve more contact with Forvis in the US. So make sure to mention that in your recruitment process!
