Audit Associate Review

Overall I really enjoyed the placement. The people I worked with were fantastic, from other placement students to partners. I was given excellent exposure to the clients I worked on along with top class training. The general age of the teams I worked in were very young, with few managers aged over 30. This meant there was an excellent atmosphere as I worked with people very similar to me.

From the outset I was given roles which made an impact to the audits I participated in. The teams I worked within made sure to provide me with the utmost support where I required it. Further, after audits were completed we would go out for 'audit meals' which were extremely fun and often ended very late.

Everyone that I worked with was more than happy to take 10 minutes out of their days to provide me with either specific technical advice on my work or even more simple things like using excel. The culture at EY is very teamly and therefore there is always help on hand if you need it, even if you think your query is particularly simple.

There was never a normal basis. During the period from January to half way through May I would regularly work 8:30 to 19:30 or 20:00. This did vary depending on deadlines. The My longest hours were 8:00 until 02:00. However, the long hours were only during this time period, during the summer months, the work was significantly less and I would frequently work 9 to 5's. This variation suits some people and not others. If you cannot handle not being able to take holiday during the first 3/4 months of the year then this placement isn't for you.

From the beginning, the work I was given on was extremely important. It was sufficiently important/difficult to push me, however not too much that I wasn't able to handle it. On one occasion, I did feel under significant pressure where I was given work that should have been given to someone more senior than me. At the time, for approximately two weeks, I did feel stressed and under pressure that I did not want, however, after completing it I knew it would be useful for my personal growth.

My excel skills are now significantly better, due to working on excel all hours of the day and night. Further my teaming skills have been improved due to having to work in many different teams during my time there.

95% of the time I was working from client offices. The the rooms that EY was based, due to the young teams, the atmosphere was fantastic. Although we got the job completed to a high standard, we had fun.

The placement scheme was very well organised. We had a packed training week as a group of placement students. Further, throughout the year there were socials organised on a department basis as well as with the other placement students.

Most placement students (depending on your department) started some form of chartered accountancy qualification, either ACA of CA. We completed the first 2 exams. Further to this, throughout the year there are specific trainings depending on your role. There were also soft skills trainings as part of the placement.

All placement students get offered graduate jobs unless you: a) Fail all of the exams and resits (even then, you may get an offer from a different department) b) cock up badly, for example lose a client. I decided a different department would be more suited to me, so I asked HR if I could move, I was provided with a partner interview quickly after finishing the placement and had the offer the next day.

The social scene had many aspects, from after work drinks to the Christmas party and everything in between. Socials were regularly organised for the placement students too. Also, meals as teams often happened in Michelin star restaurants. The Christmas party is a must - with 2000 people in one venue and a 3 course all you can drink meal.

I lived just south of Canary Wharf. It is London prices, but the wage we received was enough to cover rent and living to a good standard. No worries.

I worked from three main places during my year, London Bridge, Birmingham and Folkestone. London Bridge, there's plenty going on. Birmingham, again plenty. Folkestone, not so much, but we did venture to the only club there one night.

There were opportunities, however it didn't appear that many people did.