KPMG Tax Vacation Student Review

In the tax department in Aberdeen there was a wide range of projects for me to get involved in. There are lots of large clients therefore I was able to take part in group tax computations and reviews to get an insight into how corporate tax actually worked for large international firms. Furthermore there was the opportunity to help on a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) project. This involved doing the tax side of a buyers due diligence report (DD), acting for the acquiring company and reviewing the tax position of the company/group being purchased. I also got involved in the KPMGtraineesuk instagram account posting pictures of my time in the company and of the type of people you can work with and the office and city you get to explore. Additionally I was able to help research possible future clients for KPMG in India which was fun and interesting to see the contacts that KPMG has built up. Finally on the Tax Vacation Programme you attend the tax business school in London for three days and get a firm grounding on the different types of tax KPMG gets involved in and the rules and laws that are in place.

Always included in what was happening and kept up to date on current projects. The work I was given had real value in projects or in assisting colleagues therefore I felt like the work I was doing use useful.

Very welcoming when I arrived and any time I had issues they where always swiftly dealt with, thus the supportv I recieved was great.

I could be reviewing tax computations, researching potential clients and companies, preparing highlights memo’s and updating group plans or I could be creating group relief schedules reading up on KPMG’s tax products and receiving training on conference calls or webcasts. On a day to day basis the tasks you are asked to do vary depending on the client and projects that are most important for that day. Therefore overall there is always something different to do as you work with lots of different clients on lots of different projects in an industry that it constantly evolving.

During the placement I was given a fair amount of responsibility, working with KPMG’s tax computer programs I was able to have an input over large client’s data on a regular basis and communicating with the Indian team, was responsible for reviewing draft computations they had prepared. Furthermore I was involved in preparing draft letters to HMRC and senior people within the company regarding client projects and tax returns. While working with the instagram account I had free control over it on my designated days to post interesting pictures to engage people following the KPMG account. Finally working on the M&A project I was given access to sensitive client information and trusted to prepare the information that the team would be working with for the duration of the project.

Very useful as you attend the tax business school in London for three days and get a firm grounding on the different types of tax KPMG gets involved in and the rules and laws that are in place. Then after that there is good trining and introduction to differnet tax programs used in industry. Thus the training I recieved was very useful as it covered issues that i'll likely face again.

Very good, not the biggest office therefore there was good mixing between the different functions and a nice atmosphere.

Very well set up as had great introduction week in Londopn with the other tax interns and then from then on I always had work to do. Furthermore it gave me good insight into the functions of other departments.

Excellent as I was able to recieve training that gradutes usually got as well as attend the normal staff training sessions, futhermore there was the great training week in London.

Had a partner interview therefore if it went well then I would happily accept a job offer.

The social life at KPMG is good, in London I was able to go for meals with the other interns, play table football and watch the world cup semi finals. At the office lots of people were happy to talk and go walks at lunch, go out after work on Fridays.

Aberdeen is quite expensive but wage reflects this issue.

Only went out once or twice but the area is nice with a good variety of different places to go to on a night out.

Sporting activities such as badminton were popular and I enjoyed. There is a club on the KPMG portal for most activities; therefore if you had a passion you could find other people in the company who shared the same interests.