Accounting Insight Advisory Assistant Review
at RSM
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Accounting
Manchester
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
4.5 /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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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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:
4/5
My day to day role involves the statutory accounts preparation of unaudited businesses, quarterly VAT returns and management accounts preparation.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I have thoroughly enjoyed my Level 4 apprenticeship. My team has definitely made my experience at RSM so much better. They were very welcoming when I initially joined and they are very supportive of me in both my day to day work and my studies.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have developed many skills during my time at RSM. Before joining, I had no previous knowledge of accountancy. In 2 years, my knowledge of accounts preparation has developed a lot and I can now confidently prepare accounts. I have also developed my communication skills. I am naturally quite shy and introverted but I have gained lots of experience delivering presentations, attending networking events and communicating with clients.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Overall, I would say that the programme is structured fairly well. When you first join, the internal training team run lots of sessions to provide you with a foundation knowledge of accountancy. This is very useful when it comes to starting work and your professional qualification so you're not going in blind. In terms of studying for AAT and ACA, we study in blocks. This means that some periods can feel quite intense when you are trying to balance working full time with revising. However, it is manageable since it is only for a short period of time. Managers are also very open to feedback on how the current system is working and what can be improved for future intakes.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I think RSM has successfully created a very supportive environment for students. In terms of exams, our team has a dedicated exams training manager who is there to provide support with any exam related queries. It also helps that every senior member of staff has completed similar exams, therefore they can relate to your situation, provide support and celebrate exam success. At work, there are always lots of people to help. Supervisors and other more experienced members of staff are always happy to provide assistance and explain things in different ways to help you understand.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
My training provider is BPP. They are quite good when it comes to the organisation of exams and study. However, my cohort have found some tutors to be better than others. They are sometimes not great with the admin side of things. For example, they told me the wrong due date for my skills & behaviour activities.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
My qualification greatly supports my role. It helps me to understand a lot more about my day to day work. Additionally, my job helps me to grasp the concept we learn at college, since I can apply scenarios to real life situations.
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
I think the offering of social activities differs from office to office. The Manchester office offers lots of opportunities to be social. There are lots of whole office events (charity run, quiz, comedy night). There is also an RSM football club! We regularly attend networking events hosted by MCASS (Manchester Chartered Accountants Student Society).
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend RSM to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The team is very supportive. The qualification opens up lots of doors, which will set you up for a great career. It's also great that you join in a cohort with like minded students and there are lots of opportunities to make friends.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to RSM?
Be yourself! Ask questions during the interview process. It's important to find out more about RSM to see whether you think the company is the right fit for you and if you would be happy here. Also don't worry about having little to no accounting knowledge. RSM will help you along the way.
