Trainee Accountant Review
at Walter Dawson & Son
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Accounting
Northallerton
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
4.6 /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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4.4/5
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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:
5/5
My main tasks are:
Drafting accounts for companies to be checked by my manger.
Completing monthly / quarterly VAT returns for my own clients.
Drafting individual, partnership and corporation tax returns to be reviewed by my manager.
Drafting accounts for companies to be checked by my manger.
Completing monthly / quarterly VAT returns for my own clients.
Drafting individual, partnership and corporation tax returns to be reviewed by my manager.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I really enjoy my programme at work, I feel like everyday is different and I am always busy.
I enjoy having the day for study leave as it gives me chance to focus on my exams.
I enjoy having the day for study leave as it gives me chance to focus on my exams.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have developed my communication skills by communicating with clients everyday either by phone, email or face to face conversations.
I came to Walter Dawson with no experience in accounting so everything I have learnt in the last 3 years is all new to me.
I now mentor a new level 2 apprentice so in the last year have developed my leadership skills
I came to Walter Dawson with no experience in accounting so everything I have learnt in the last 3 years is all new to me.
I now mentor a new level 2 apprentice so in the last year have developed my leadership skills
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
I think it is very well organised, myself and the other apprentices all go to college on a wednesday and this has been the same since I started so I have been able stick to the same routine.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive as much support and help as I need. When I first started I was completely new to AAT so I felt like I was asking too much and needing too much help but my manager was there everyday whenever I needed anything.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
My college is good at giving me the help I need. I have a main teacher who supports me through my exams then I also have a tutor which supports me with everything else I need.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I worked in the office for 5 months before starting my qualification so I got to know what I was doing but I wasn't really sure why I was doing anything.
When I started my AAT qualification it helped me understand a lot more what I was doing at work and enabled me to excel in my day to day tasks.
When I started my AAT qualification it helped me understand a lot more what I was doing at work and enabled me to excel in my day to day tasks.
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 6 offices dotted around Yorkshire and every year there are plenty of social events for us all to meet up as the only other time we communicate is via email and over the phone.
There is an awards ceremony every November and then smaller events during the year for example a night at the races.
We also have an annual charity which we have fundraisers for during the year.
There is an awards ceremony every November and then smaller events during the year for example a night at the races.
We also have an annual charity which we have fundraisers for during the year.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Walter Dawson & Son to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I got recommended to Walter Dawson from a friend when I was expressing interest in starting an accounting apprenticeship and I can see why.
The support I have received is more than I could ask for and everyone who I work with are all welcoming, friendly and happy to help always.
The support I have received is more than I could ask for and everyone who I work with are all welcoming, friendly and happy to help always.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Walter Dawson & Son?
Some advice I say is be ready to get thrown in at the deep end - although this may be daunting and you may feel out your depth at the start it has allowed me to excel faster and have more knowledge than say some people I go to college with. Help and support is also gonna be there all the way.
