Audit Vacation Student Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the vacation programme within the Audit capability. All of my colleagues were extremely helpful and honest in answering any question I had regarding their career and other opportunities available at KPMG. The work I was given was highly engaging and allowed for a true insight into real client orientated work and also allowed for the opportunity to directly engage with the client upon conducting controls testing at the client's site.

All colleagues were extremely welcoming and helpful throughout the vacation scheme. I was made to feel valued from day one with a guided tour of the office and the opportunity to introduce myself to all team members. Everyone was kind and helpful in answering any of my questions which enabled me to build a better picture of the KPMG ethos and culture.

Everybody I encountered during the vacation scheme was willing to take time out of their day to offer guidance and support which benefitted my own personal development. The work I was given was well explained and any arising questions were answered promptly meaning I was able to get the most out of my time at the firm.

Although many of the skills and techniques I developed during the scheme were highly specialised for working within Audit, a variety of interpersonal/communication skills underpinned everything I did during my vacation scheme. The opportunity to engage directly with senior members of KPMG alongside the client themselves meant that I learnt to adapt my communication style for the situation in hand which will assist me in the future during my degree studies and beyond.

The Vacation scheme was of 4 weeks duration and was kickstarted with an induction event in Canary Wharf where we was all issued with a new firm laptop for use throughout the scheme. We went though basic training in preparation for starting the scheme the following day which included covering the firms values and expectations. Throughout the following 4 weeks I was booked on to a variety of client engagements and attended a variety of internal and external meeting following completion of the ethics and independence online training modules.

The general atmosphere at KPMG was highly inclusive, diverse and engaging. The firm itself has a hard working culture but also a fun side whereby everyone gets along in a friendly manner with a variety of social event being held to encourage team building. During the vacation scheme I got the impression that a career at KPMG would not only allow access to high quality work but also allow for the opportunity to meet like minded people who gel well together both inside and outside of work.

The firm provided multiple online ethics and independence training sessions which were designed to better understand the highly regulated industry KPMG operates within. The training itself prepared me well for my client engagements and meant I better understood the processes in place to help conduct my work in a professional manner.

The biggest selling point of the KPMG Vacation scheme was that it allowed me to handle real client work on a daily basis. The scheme allowed for a true insight in to the firm and the work given and expected of myself was similar to that of a first year trainee and therefore gave me a good understanding of what a graduate role would consist of.

The company culture was endorsed by all colleagues and made for a welcoming and inclusive environment. From a personal perspective, participating in the vacation scheme was the best way for me to understand the company culture first hand and meant that I gained a good understanding of what was expected of colleagues alike.

The content of the entire scheme allowed my to better understand the role of an Auditor and the general tasks encountered of a daily basis. As such, the exposure I had has allowed me to make decision regarding my future career path and the insight I have gained has allowed me to better understand what I want from my career.

I was paid a highly competitive salary (pro rota) for completing the vacation scheme. Additionally, any expenses incurred during the 4 weeks were also reimbursed. This included travel expenses to client sites alongside travel and accommodation expenses incurred in attending the induction day. Furthermore, KPMG also gives all employees a daily lunch allowance.

The open plan nature of the office meant that meeting new people within the firm was very easy. I had the opportunity network with a whole range of colleagues including graduates, managers, senior managers, directors and partners. Everyone at the firm was very willing to give up their time to grab a coffee and have a catch up with you which meant I was able to build up a good network of contacts at the firm.

Networking events were manly built into the scheme itself. I always had the opportunity to invite people to grab a coffee and have a talk irrespective of their position within the firm. Alongside this, informal networking drinks were held following the induction day in Canary Wharf and again at the end of the scheme which allowed everyone to have a catch up and share their experiences.

Most people at the firm have other interests outside of the firm and due to the sizeable nature of KPMG many people often shared these same interests. As such a variety of sporting events and activities are held throughout the year and even inter-firm competitions are held with other firms within the city.

This Vacation scheme was essential for me in order to better understand what a career at KPMG could entail. The programme allowed me to develop my understanding of KPMG's business operations as well as the career progression and development opportunities available throughout your career. The insight I have gained has not only developed my understanding of what a career at KPMG may look like, but also my expectations of what I want from my own career.