Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services Analyst Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my work placement as it was something completely different to what I was expecting. I got the chance to live in London for a year, and work at one of the most renowned professional services firms in the entire world. On top of this, I was able to meet people who were from all over the globe - working with colleagues from Portugal, Spain, America, Germany and Australia! Overall it was a great experience for me, and I'm very fortunate to have learned a lot over the 13 months I was with EY.

I felt like such a valued member of the team throughout the year. Working at EY made me feel like I was just as important as any other associate and I wasn't treated any differently to the graduates. This meant that I was entrusted with a lot of responsibility and many managers delegated tasks to me. In such a short period of time I learned so much, not only about myself but about work at EY through the level of workload I was given. My opinions were valued, and I was asked for my thoughts regarding different situations and proposals which was rather daunting at first, but something that I never took for granted.

EY have a strong support structure in place. As soon as you enter the organisation on the very first day you are met by your 'buddy' - someone who has been assigned to you in order to make sure that you settle in to the firm well. Your buddy will have emailed you a few days previously to introduce themselves and arrange your first day on placement. You are also assigned a counsellor. This is someone who looks after your goals and helps you to achieve your maximum potential whilst on placement. They are slightly more formal than buddy's and are there for any professional difficulties you may face. In addition to all of this I also had the support and guidance of my line manager, which was absolutely fantastic and helped me settle into my role almost instantaneously.

I was entrusted with a lot of work whilst I was on placement. This workload slowly built up after submitting work at the start of my placement that my managers were pleased with. I found it a lot more challenging when facing many demands from many different areas of the organisation but that is something I've learned a lot from. I was also grateful for having this amount of work as it meant the days and weeks just flew by! There was never a dull moment in the office and with the support structures implemented I was able to seek advice wherever I needed it.

I was given a lot more responsibility than I ever imagined during my placement. The role I took on was one of huge importance to EY as I worked on one of the biggest projects that the organisation currently has. My manager constantly told me how important the role I took on was, and how vital it was for me to remain focused and meet deadlines which constantly motivated me. Due to the great relationship I established with my manager I was able to turn to here when some tasks seemed beyond my remit, but with some guidance I was able to achieve a lot more than the average placement student which goes to prove that opportunities are out there for you to take, and EY support your professional development much more than I ever thought a company would.

I developed a lot of statistical and analytical skills which will definitely help me if I am fortunate to return to EY as a graduate, or to remain within the financial services industry. As far as my degree is concerned, I have definitely learned how to manage my time more effectively, allowing me to prioritise tasks of high importance and complete tasks within the timeframes I set for myself. My work ethic has dramatically increased which has allowed me to take on a lot more work and volunteer for things I otherwise couldn't find time for. My writing style has matured over the course of the year, resulting in higher academic achievement within my written coursework.

My team was made up of many people from all over the globe, which therefore meant that there was never a dull moment as we were constantly learning about each other and our cultures. The morale of the team was always very high, which resulted in great working relationships being formed. As a result, we organised many socials outside of the workplace, and frequently went out for dinner and drinks. The atmosphere in the office is one of the things that shocked me about EY, as it was very professional yet very friendly. Everyone is approachable which makes for a relaxed environment that allows more productivity.

I was emailed prior to my arrival at More London Place which is the office where I completed my placement year. Everything was scheduled and I had a breakdown of my first week put in an email for me a few days before so that I knew what to expect. EY gave me the option to swap roles throughout the year in order to receive further training and development, you could even swap service line and try something completely new and out of the ordinary! The student recruitment team are always on hand to help you with anything regarding the structure of your placement year however, ultimately, that's up to you to sort after.

Unlike the placement students within audit, the FIDS placement student didn't receive any formal training or qualifications. Much of the training I received was on the job training which was very valuable, however, placement students within other areas were able to start their exams in order to achieve a Chartered Accountancy qualification with the firm. I felt the firm could have invested slightly more into the FIDS placement students due tot he lack of professional exams undertaken however, the training that was received in the form of presentations, online courses and workshops was of great value.

Based on the experiences I had during my placement year I would love to join EY as a graduate. I have been offered a graduate position within my service line I London for September 2015 and hope to return to the company.

There were in total 42 other placement students who were from all over the country. The vast majority of these were based in London, with approximately 10-12 based in regional offices. This meant that we saw each other virtually every day, and became very close friends, even if we didn't work on the same floor or within the same department. EY organised social events for us all, including any regional offices, on a fairly regular basis, for instance the end of placement boat party along the River Thames, and evening socials after training days. This meant that we all kept in contact and became very close which was great as you had people who were going through similar experiences to you, there to offer advice and support.

The cost of living was extremely high as I completed my placement year in London, however, on the contrary, as I was based in London, there was never a dull moment, and myself and my team were constantly socialising, whether it was dinner or drinks or bus tours or football matches - we id it all! On top of this, having such a close knit placement group, many of my fellow placement students would meet up each weekend and a few weeknights to go out, grab some food or have a catch up - I've never socialised as much in my life as I did during my placement year!

The nightlife in London was phenomenal. With so much choice surrounding you in central London, it's difficult to dislike something! There is a place for every mood, and a place for every night! It couldn't have gotten any better, perfect for a 21 year old who is experiencing living in London for the first time - I don't think I went to the same club twice - there was that much choice!

My project was very close, and as a result that meant that there were many socials organised. As I was a member of the FIDS social committee (for the department) I was entrusted with organising a lot of events for the team which consisted of 40 members. I would organise the usual outings such as leaving drinks (as the project has quite a high turnover) and birthday drinks but I also organised event such as a ghost bus tour of London for Halloween, a Sweeney Todd walking tour which ended on Fleet Street, lunch at The Shard, and Wine Tasting evenings. The activities I was able to organise and take part in were fantastic, and once in a lifetime!