Audit & Assurance Summer Vacation Student Review

My daily tasks involved interacting with senior staff members working on the engagement, finding out which areas of the audit they were working on, and offering assistance in those areas. I took on a variety of different tasks, from basic calculations to advanced statistical investigations, and on behalf of team members from several different Deloitte offices around the world. The engagement I worked on was with a very large technology company, so this was an interesting insight into the financial workings of MNCs.

I three things, the first being how to view the financial statements of a company in a holistic sense, relating each statement to its counterparts so as to gain a complete understanding of the financial health of a company. Secondly, I learned how to measure risk in a quantifiable way, and with the assistance of Deloitte technical guidance. Finally, I also learned how to conduct meetings in a professional setting so as to maximise productivity.

It was rewarding to be able to network with current staff, Associates to Partners, at Deloitte, as this allowed me to gain a holistic understanding of the firm. In doing so, I was able to learn about the routes for me to pursue my passion for technology and analytics, and the support that Deloitte offers its consultants to pursue similar passion projects and interests. This is definitely a feature that I will take advantage of when I join the firm upon graduation.

The company culture was incredibly friendly. Anytim I required support from a colleague, or was stuck at a particular hurdle, there was a senior member on the engagement who was willing to provide assistance. This even continued when I worked with team members from the Indian office who, despite the troubles in the region at the time, were kind enough to support my learning and development. Overall, the general atmosphere reflected this warmth and my experience benefitted greatly from it.

I enjoyed the experience very much because the work was very engaging. Being able to consistently encounter tasks that challenged me, but receiving adequate support at every roadblock, was encouraging and enjoyable. My expectations were satisfied, however, I would have very much enjoyed working in the office rather than working completely online, as this would have given me a more three-dimensional view of the firm. Upon returning on graduation, I hope to rediscover the positives of the experience in a physical setting.

Yes

I would recommend that others take the time to understand the particular office that they are applying to. Different offices have different niches, so networking will help to understand those differences and personalise one's application. For the interview, make sure to be aware of Deloitte's features in the media, especially if it pertains to the office that you are applying to. Further to that, general awareness of the audit landscape is also helpful to know so that conversations with senior staff members are more rewarding.