Audit Associate Review
at PKF Smith Cooper
Work Experience
Audit
Birmingham
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
3.9 /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!
3.4/5
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Overview of the Experience
4/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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Company Culture
Overview of the Experience
Please give an overview of what your work experience involved:
4/5
My work experience involved day-to-day on the job learning. You go straight into working and learn as you go. You are given easier tasks in the beginning and as your experience increases, so does your responsibility.
At the same time you also go to college to learn the content for your exams. You then have exams which you need to pass in order to progress to the next stage.
At the same time you also go to college to learn the content for your exams. You then have exams which you need to pass in order to progress to the next stage.
To what extent did you enjoy your work experience?
3/5
I did enjoy it. It is an interesting job working on different clients and is very analytical but it also a lot to balance with exams and study. Sometimes the job can be monotonous and become repetitive. It can be overwhelming and especially in the beginning it is really testing. This is the point where many people decide whether the role is for them
How well organised was your work experience?
3/5
It was organized to an extent. The daily working was planned well. However, the study and exams were all my responsibility to arrange. This has now been addressed by the firm now. But at the beginning it was difficult to know when and when I should not be sitting exams and where I should be in terms of progress.
How much did your work experience help you in deciding on your future career path?
2/5
Coming into the job role I had no idea what I wanted to do with my career. By going through the apprenticeship and progressing in my job role I now have a clearer image of what I want to do with my career but I am always learning about future job opportunities and potential roles.
Were you paid or reimbursed for this experience?
5/5
Expenses incurred wholly and exclusively relevant to the job role such as travel to clients or if staying over at a clients, subsistence is fully reimbursed.
Skills Development
What training and skills development did you learn from your work experience?
4/5
I have learnt the ins and out of audit. It is a very useful way to learn the relevant skills. My excel skills improved dramatically. I also improved on my communication skills from working as part of a team and also communicating with clients. My overall planning and organizational skills improved too,
Company Culture
How much did you learn about the company culture and what it would be like to work there?
4/5
The company culture is good. there is generally a good culture in the office and it is not a bad place to come into. Everyone is approachable and all the team members are willing to help one another. management teams can sometimes be hard to contact or get time with due to how busy they are but overall is a good culture.
There is generally a good work/life balance but there are sometimes occasions where more work is needed in order to meet certain deadlines and this is not given back through TOIL etc. But this does not happen often
There is generally a good work/life balance but there are sometimes occasions where more work is needed in order to meet certain deadlines and this is not given back through TOIL etc. But this does not happen often
Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees?
4/5
Social events are held quarterly as well as a firmwide summer party once a year. There is also a Christmas party which all present good opportunities to network and meet other employees from our other offices or departments.
Recommendations and Advice
Would you recommend PKF Smith Cooper to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It is a good place to work. As a mid tier firm there is plenty of opportunity for development which I think you would not get at Big4. The culture at the firm is a good one and things are managed generally well.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to PKF Smith Cooper?
Research the firm’s values and culture — we value collaboration, initiative, and a genuine interest in helping clients. Show enthusiasm for learning and be ready to take on responsibility early. Highlight soft skills as much as technical ones
