Assurance Associate Review
at EY
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Audit
Manchester
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
5 /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
5/5
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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:
5/5
I am in statutory audit. I am reviewing client accounts to check for their completeness and fairness in accordance with IFRS guidance.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I thoroughly enjoy the programme. I am given opportunities to learn, as well as well-measured roles of responsibility that allow me to increase my understanding in a working environment. Engaging with clients is my favourite aspect of the programme.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I am developing both accounting skills, as well as auditing skills thanks to the duality of the job and qualification. Audit is my role, but you need a broad understanding of the accounting and finance industry.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
There is a nice spread between time working on engagements with the business, as well as time spent outside the business doing strictly qualifications. It is similar to seasons in a year because audit is quite seasonal in nature, given most companies have a financial year end that is around the tax year end.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a lot of support from dedicated support staff, as well as people on my engagement team and other assigned individuals. These buddies and Councilors are the first point of call for any questions outside of engagements and actively encourage you to keep in touch. There are also guidance councilors connected to the apprenticeship itself who check in to see how you are progressing and help create achievable targets for you.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
ICAS provides plenty of online material to allow flexible learning outside of college time. The tutors are also very willing to spend time with individuals to delve into difficult topics in more detail.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
I have only done the knowledge level exams, but that has given me a good baseline for which to build upon in my role as an auditor. While you aren't the one producing the accounts, by reviewing them you need to have an understanding of what the account is meant to be, and what may potentially be an issue, as well as be able to identify and ask the correct questions to the client to further your understanding. These are all steps in making an audit judgement.
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 are many social activites available, such as football and climbing. I already do my own activities outside of work and so have chosen to continue these rather than join. Instead, I mainly attend the more social events such as department socials, etc.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend EY to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The workplace culture, combined with the opportunities to progress myself and through the firm are all reasons why any young professional would enjoy their time at EY.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to EY?
Come prepared with an understanding of the business' objectives and values, and use past experiences to communicate in your application how you have applied these values & what effect it had on the situation.
