Audit Assistant Review

I enjoyed my placement at KPMG, it has been a very big learning curve and at times a stuggle but looking back I 100% think it was worth it. Everyone was really friendly, welcoming and treated me like a graduate. I also got to sit my first 5 accounting (ACA) exams which KPMG paid for. The only downside was the work-life balance, as audit is typically understaffed and there are client deadlines to meet there was often times where I would work 45-50 hour weeks.

The nature of the job means I was working with different people every few weeks and would rarely get the chance to work with the same people again. Due to this it was hard for managers to know what to expect from you and difficult to make long lasting friends.

The process for feedback fairly rigid at KPMG, When you finish on a job you analyse how you feel it went (3 strengths & 3 weaknesses) and then send it on to the in-charge/manager of the job for their thoughts. These are then all collated by your manager who discusses them with you at one of the half-yearly discussions.

In my sector (national markets) the 'busy season' is from Jan - March because of all the December year-ends however it was busy all year round. There was always something to be getting on with!

Responsibility was given to me from day 1. I was treated like a grad for the year and so was expected to do what they were. On client site's I was part of the team with my own work allocation meaning I would be performing test work, running samples and speaking to the client. I was responsible for my own work but never felt I couldn't ask for help if I needed it.

This year I have had the opportunity to sit my first 5 accounting exams, I sat Accounting, Assurance, Law, Business Finance & Principles of Taxation. I also got to attend 4 different classroom courses. These were to teach the new grads (and me) how to use KPMG's software, how to perform certain audit tests and ways to speak to clients. Although this probably won't help me in my degree much, as I do mathematics - I have learnt so much that will help in life going forward even if I decide later don't want a career in finance the basic accounting skills I have learnt will always be useful.

KPMG operate a 'hot desk' policy for anyone under manager grade as most of the time people are on client site as opposed to being in the office. Although I rarely was in the office whenever I was there it was always reasonably busy. Despite not having worked with everyone in the office there was always someone to talk to and have lunch with. Usually everyone goes to lunch together, on a few occasions we went for pub lunches or lunches by the lake in the business park.

I was the only audit placement student in the Reading office and was treated like a graduate for the year. I felt as though the placement was poorly organised. Firstly, in my interview I was told they would give me a response within 2 weeks but I waited 2 months before hearing anything (even though I rang them to ask about what was taking so long). Secondly, on my first day they didn't even know I was coming (I started at the same time as the grads). No-one seemed to know the process for getting a job with them after I graduate until very late on. Finally, jobs were poorly organised and as such long commutes and, often, little work life balance were regular occurrences.

As mentioned before I have sat 5 of my accounting exams - these were paid for by KPMG. Without these exams I doubt I would have been able to do the job as well as they taught me the basics surrounding all the main areas needed for the job. KPMG also provide travel expenses and give you a lunch allowance (£3.20 in the office or £4 out of office).

Have been reassured by my manager that I should get a job offer when I finish but it is yet to be confirmed as my manager & people leader need to sit down and discuss it first.

There were no other placement students, however on occasion me and the grads would go for dinner/drinks together. There is also a social committee that organizes monthly drinks for the department along with other socials, such as the Christmas Part & Away Day. Also there are often opportunities to get discounted tickets for events.

Reading is a great place to live! It has a great train station that has links to pretty much the whole country and it's so close to London (1/2hour on fast train). It's not the cheapest place to live but it also isn't the most expensive. There are lots of bars/restaurants/clubs in Reading so has something for everyone.

Lots of bars and clubs in Reading town centre. As Reading is a university town the clubs and bars are always busy.

There are social sport teams (eg. football) that anyone can get involved in, there are also company wide activities you can get involved in (eg. sailing).