Vacation Student in Deal Advisory Review

This insight programme was very enjoyable. I was able to experience working on a range of projects within Deal Advisory, gaining exposure to many members of staff from different teams (including Transactions Services, Restructuring and Corporate Finance).

As I am not a qualified accountant, the scope of work available to me was limited. However, when work became available for me to complete, I felt very valued. My colleagues would take time to go through tasks with me and help me to understand how and where my work would have an impact on the wider business and the public.

The support and guidance at KPMG is second to none. There is a culture of shared knowledge, and members of staff are always happy to answer any questions that you may have, no matter how basic. The office is open-plan and staff at all levels work together, meaning that there is always someone nearby to help you.

As my vacation programme was at an accountancy firm, the technical applications to my Economics degree are limited. However the skills which I have gained with regards to networking, confidence and time management will all be useful within my degree studies and beyond. The vacation programme has also allowed me to identify areas which I need to improve my skills (e.g. my competency using Excel). I will be using my spare time over the next year to improve these skills so that I can hit the ground running in my graduate job.

Due to my vacation programme being based in Deal Advisory, the structure of the programme is much more flexible than those within Audit and Tax. This is simply due to Deal Advisory being very reliant on the business cycle, so workload varies highly throughout the year (compared to Audit, which can plan their jobs months in advance). However this was useful, as in quieter periods I was able to move around to different teams, as well as complete mandatory eLearning modules.

The culture at KPMG is very friendly. All staff are very approachable and want to share their knowledge and experience with you. The office is very chatty and informal, and people respect when you are busy and will help you out if you have any problems/questions. This culture is one that I enjoy, and I felt that it helped me to feel more comfortable and get the most out of my 4 weeks at the company.

At the start of the internship I attended a values day, which outlines a rough structure for the 4 weeks and refreshed our knowledge of the company and its values. Additionally, throughout the vacation programme I was required to complete multiple online eLearning modules, some more generic (such as Ethics training) and some more specific (Deal Advisory specific training).

The internship gave me a great understanding of what it is like to work at the company, and what the output of different teams looks like. The work completed over the 4 weeks is similar to that which would be given to someone on the graduate scheme, however it is not representative of what the average, experienced member of staff would be doing.

The company culture is very strong and clear. Everyone is approachable and friendly and they all want you to ask questions and ask why things are as they are. The office is open plan, with people chatting and taking calls alongside people working to short deadlines. I personally felt that I excelled in this environment.

Within the Deal advisory vacation programme, you are allocated to a specific team, and you are not expected to move around Deal Advisory. However, due to my internship taking place during a quieter period, I was able to move around to different teams (including corporate finance and restructuring), which allowed me to work out which area I would like to pursue in the future.

There were not dedicated networking events specifically for interns, however KPMG does organise regular networking and social events which are open to all employees. If you actively look for networking opportunities then you will find them, however you will have to ask around. However, I would argue that formal networking is not necessary due to the friendly and approachable culture of the firm, if you want to chat with someone, then just drop them an email and they will find time to talk with you.

There were social events available, however they are very dependant on the team you are placed in and how busy people are with projects. There are many opportunities to network with people throughout the organisation, and the office is very social and chatty, so I did not feel like the lack of dedicated social opportunities held me back from meeting people.

Communication about activities outside of work were hard to come by as an intern, as they are often sent out via mass email shots, and as an intern you are not part of these. If you are interested in finding out about activities outside of work, make sure that your buddy/manager forwards these opportunities to your email address so that you can find out about them.

If you want to work in a friendly office with people who are happy to support your personal growth, then KPMG is the place for you. As for Deal Advisory specifically, I would make sure that you consider how much you value having a steady job with fixed hours, as you will not find that here.