Overall Rating
4.4 /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
4/5
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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
On a day-to-day basis, my role includes providing assurance on testing areas within an entity audit. Since the beginning of my role, this has been quite varied. My responsibilities may include completing expenditure testing, or balance sheet testing for example. Within this, I must make sure I properly communicate with the audit and client team in order to most efficiently and effectively complete entity audits.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
So far I have enjoyed the programme. Having come from a different company programme to continue my apprenticeship at Crowe, I have noticed that there is more of a focus on the people and communication between Crowe people as a whole. I have enjoyed the atmosphere and work-life balance the job have given me in comparison and appreciate the many opportunities to give and receive feedback. Additionally, Crowe streamlines a lot of development areas to that of the apprenticeship 'OneFile'. For instance, the company training is in line with each stage of exams apprentices take, and feedback forms include different areas that reflect those within the knowledge/skills/experience criteria that we use within the apprenticeship learning journals.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have further developed my communications skills within my role. Crowe utilise employees from across the UK company, as well as employees within South Africa. This allows me to develop my communication in a variety of ways, both in person and remotely. Additionally, I am developing my understanding of Crowe specifically procedures which in turn is developing my flexibility to different environments and expanding my idea and experience of audit as a whole.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
I believe the programme is very structured, as mentioned the training provided is in line with the different level of exams you take. The training is also very structured in order to make sure apprentices leave the training at an equal level of understanding.
Additionally, the feedback forms that we receive for our audit work have areas that are in line with the criteria we must show during our apprenticeship. - This is very useful when it comes to thinking about how we are developing within our apprenticeship and also allows you to have proof of development of these criteria points.
However, as I joiner to the apprenticeship already with a year of experience, I do feel personally that the structure is as organised and streamlined to factor that in for myself personally.
Additionally, the feedback forms that we receive for our audit work have areas that are in line with the criteria we must show during our apprenticeship. - This is very useful when it comes to thinking about how we are developing within our apprenticeship and also allows you to have proof of development of these criteria points.
However, as I joiner to the apprenticeship already with a year of experience, I do feel personally that the structure is as organised and streamlined to factor that in for myself personally.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I so far receive a lot of support from my employer. I feel like there are a lot of people to talk to about any queries or questions, and if that person can't help me, they will send me to the appropriate person instead. I have not had an circumstances to further test support received from my employer as of yet.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
I do not believe there is as much support from Kaplan as I would like. I have not had the opportunity to use there 24/7 tutor help within my current role as of yet but I feel the fact the throughout my time with Kaplan, I have had a number of self-study/ on demand sessions, this has lead me to not feel as supported. Especially when Kaplan expects apprentices to sometimes complete over 12 hours of studying within one day. Despite myself and many other apprentices feeding this back to Kaplan, nothing has changed.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I think my qualification helps greatly in performing my role. With a new employer, I now have enough time to properly learn and understand exam materials, and think how this will apply to my audit work. With every exam, on return to my audit work, I can see areas that I can improve from the new knowledge I have now gained.
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
Crowe have a lot of social activities and networking events that we can attend. They regularly have 'Lunch and Learns', where a specific topics picked and someone with greater understanding talks about the topic. These can be really useful if you have an interest in related areas to accounting and audit, for instance maybe data analytics.
Crowe also have month-end socials. - These are a nice way to have a drink on the Crowe tab and get to know your college's out of the office. I have enjoyed these and the fact that they are frequent means you have the option to stay the whole night, or just pop your head in to say 'hi'. On top of this, Crowe host the occasional social where something different happen. For example, they hosted a games night within a modern arcade. We took part in Teams darts and were given credits to go on any games within the place to play whatever we wanted. - I ended up leaving the night having won 4 prizes!
Crowe also have month-end socials. - These are a nice way to have a drink on the Crowe tab and get to know your college's out of the office. I have enjoyed these and the fact that they are frequent means you have the option to stay the whole night, or just pop your head in to say 'hi'. On top of this, Crowe host the occasional social where something different happen. For example, they hosted a games night within a modern arcade. We took part in Teams darts and were given credits to go on any games within the place to play whatever we wanted. - I ended up leaving the night having won 4 prizes!
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Crowe UK to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Since being at Crowe, many of my friends have said they've noticed a difference in me. A positive one. In my previous employment, I was working long hours with the expectation that I will provide sufficient work AND also pass exams. Now at Crowe, I don't know how I had the time!
I feel much more relxed at Crowe with much more reasonable hours. Additionally, Crowe have an overtime policy for times where you have agreed to work past your contract hours. - This changes the environment of the office entirely. Instead of feeling pressured to keep working later and later, you instead clock off at your contracted time unless YOU have agreed with your team. This has helped tremendously with stress during exams. I feel like I an clock off and not worry about the work that is waiting for me the next day that I 'should have done'.
I would recommend Crowe to my friends definitely!
I feel much more relxed at Crowe with much more reasonable hours. Additionally, Crowe have an overtime policy for times where you have agreed to work past your contract hours. - This changes the environment of the office entirely. Instead of feeling pressured to keep working later and later, you instead clock off at your contracted time unless YOU have agreed with your team. This has helped tremendously with stress during exams. I feel like I an clock off and not worry about the work that is waiting for me the next day that I 'should have done'.
I would recommend Crowe to my friends definitely!
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Crowe UK?
Be confident and ready to ask questions to your interviewers. Make sure you understand the company. I have been in corporate audit previously but Crowe takes on Corporate, Charity and Pension audits, this would be a good thing to ask about whether you're interviewing as a new or partially experienced graduate, to show your interest in all areas!
