Tax Assistant (Intern) Review

The whole team were so friendly and welcoming, I felt like I'd been there for months within the first few days. I always had something to do which and got to try a whole range of different tasks which really gave me a great inside into working in tax. The whole company was great to work for and I really enjoyed the whole experience.

I was trusted with some pretty important jobs from day two, so I felt like an actual member of the team who was contributing to the company rather than a burden they had to occupy. This made a huge difference with helping me feel like I was supposed to be there and allowed me to really enjoy the experience!

All the managers were all really approachable, even the partners (although I couldn't help but feel a little nervous every time I had to talk to them!). They always explained the process of each task really clearly before I started and, as there are no individual offices, they were right there to answer any questions while I was working. My biggest help though was my 'buddy', a first year graduate who had been appointed by the department to be my first point of call. He was so patient and helpful even if I asked a really silly question, and always gave me something to do when I finished a task.

I always had something to do but I never felt completely swamped or overwhelmed. I would be given a task, left to complete it at my own pace, and then given a new one once I had finished. There was a really nice balance between brain-boggling tasks that needed training, like tax returns and liability computations, and tasks that allowed me to give my brain a break, like archiving and other admin bits.

For an intern without even a degree let alone professional qualifications, Mazars really got me stuck in from day two (day one was all the necessary induction bits and pieces). I had completed 3 tax returns, and a whole host of other tasks, using their professional software by the end of week one. You definitely don't end up just making tea!

By working so closely alongside one of the grad scheme students, I got a real insight into what life after university would be like. I was given similar responsibilities to a new start grad student who would be undertaking studies towards their professional qualifications, so I gained loads of insight into how to apply what I have been studying for the last two years into a real life situation. I found that my understanding of all the accounting and tax theory fell into place once I was able to actually use it in the real world.

Everyone was really relaxed and friendly. Everyone was just given the freedom to organise themselves which I'm sure actually encouraged people to work harder. I felt like because I had so much freedom to work at my own pace, I wanted to do the job that little bit better to impress the managers and show that I wasn't wasting time doing nothing. Everyone in the office was really approachable so it was nice to stop and catch up with someone which was perfectly fine if you had the time to spare. But again, the only person monitoring that was you.

It was really well organised. I was given a really clear outline of how my 8 weeks would pan out almost as soon as I got to my department, and I was excited to find out that I'd be working within three different types of tax (personal, corporate and global mobility), something that not many other internships offer as you have to choose which type you want to work in when you apply. I think this is a great benefit to the Mazars internship as it gives you a taste of everything rather than expecting you to specialise too early.

The amount of time and energy the whole team put into ensuring that I was comfortable and confident with every task made me feel like they genuinely cared about my experience and how I developed over the 8 weeks. But that is how the company seems as a whole, they are interested in ensuring that each and every employee is valued for their contributions and do everything they can to help you do the best you can do and be the best you can be. They never had unachievable expectations and allowed me to learn at my own pace.

I have not yet finished my internship so do not know yet if I will be offered a place on the grad scheme, but the potential to be is there which is always very appealing, especially when I have enjoyed my time here so much. It's clear from my internship and through speaking to the current graduates that Mazars would be a great place to work post grad.

They had an 'official' social once a month which was really nice, but every Friday we went to the food market to grab some lunch together, and sometimes people would send round word of casual drinks after work which was nice. On your first day, the company pays for the team to go out for lunch as well which is a great chance to start to get to know everyone.

It's London and everyone knows London is extortionately expensive! However, you do get paid a good salary by the company for being an intern so it's perfectly manageable. So long as you're sensible with money and don't go crazy on pay day, you can usually balance between doing things you want to do and saving money for travel and food!

Again, it's London so the night life is brilliant. There's a bar or club for literally every theme or specific interest. The Mazars office is right on St Katherine's Docks, so there is loads of bars and restaurants right below the office which makes socialising after work really easy. However, the rest of London is only 2 mins away on a tube as the office is in such central London.

Activites outside of work could be somewhat limited, or at least to me. I heard many great things about things happening across the office, and was always getting mass sent emails inviting me to one thing or another, however as I was only there for 8 weeks, I didn't really have the time (or the energy after getting up at 7am!) to get involved.