Abilities Talent Insight Programme Audit Review

As the insight programme wasn't long, the focus was to ensure every second counts. On day one, candidates were given talks by panelists, growing importance of ESG and technology and gave a non-assessed pitch on a fictious problem. Day 2 involved another team of experienced panelists and involved shadowing professionals from your respective capability and learning about the world of work. The final day was involved a KPMG experience, involving bite-sized activities to learn about the company, followed by an assessed group assignment and a 1-1 interview.

Most skill development revolved mainly around around soft skills and minimal technical skill development. Developed further knowledge about ESG and technology impacting the audit space. Moreover, time management skills were refined due to keeping track during interview and group assessment. Overall, the experience basically helps get your foot in the door of one of the professional services firms

It was an intuitive experience, getting to know professionals from your chosen capability. The organizational structure of the audit practice was very profound, given that the firm started as an audit company. It also pays heed to tax and legal, consulting and other advisory roles in depth, given that it is a competitive firm amongst the big 4. Within my discipline, there were two paths you can take (financial and IT audit), and branch out internally to another discipline if wanted after enough experience has been gathered.

What separates KPMG from the other big 3 is its focus on people and culture, and this was apparent during all 3 days of the insight programme. We got to witness the various facilities KPMG provides to its colleagues, employee networks, saw the hybrid structure of work and interacted with current workers within audit. During the shadowing process, I even ran into a partner of the firm, and it was great to interact with someone at a very senior position who exuded the same values (from the short amount of time I spoke to him) to some of the less senior members of the audit floor.

It was well organized and managed perfectly. I got to meet first year students like myself and third year students as well, all of whom had similar goals and aspirations to mine.

Yes

Throughout the recruitment process, the company is essentially looking to learn more about your strengths as a candidate. To be successful on this programme, you will be required to demonstrate the strengths that the company looks for in graduates at KPMG, even as a first year student with the opportunity to land a summer internship. This is because both the tests in the launchpad experience are the same for graduates and first-years.