Public Sector Assurance (PSA) (audit) Review

I really enjoyed the work (yes, really!) and the people I was working with. I was working on public sector audit which is slightly different to commercial and, during my short time there, appeared to attract a slightly different type of person working within it.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only were some managers actively discussing the best places for me to go- but some were also requesting me! I definitely felt valued by my colleagues, and they were very understanding of my existing knowledge and helping me work through technicalities etc.

I was given enough support to get me started and enough encouragement to ask questions to get jobs finished. Every single person I asked for help or advice- whether it specific to the job or help on general internal systems was more than happy to help out.

Initially, as with these sorts of placements, there was some down time which I used to complete some of the tasks set for us during the internship. This kind of work does come in waves and I think that my experience reflected the real world of the job with largerly a balanced workload and occasional busy/less busy afternoons or mornings.

As a student with no accounting training or knowledge I was given the amount of responsibility on jobs that I'd expect- not a huge amount because lots of the work had to be explained to me the first time although I was then expected to be able to repeat tasks without further input. However the responsibility beyond that of the 'work' was great. We were trusted to set our own goals, both long term and day-today, with the onus on me to make sure that I was busy. Opportunities outside of my service line were readily available and was a simple case of me making the initial contact.

The general office/working life skills that my time here has developed are truly valuable and applicable no matter where I end up. The 2 day training course in presentation skills was outstanding and the chance to properly get to know interns from across the country and service lines was something I wasn't expecting. The training went well beyond that I'd experienced at university (and my course was good at providing this sort of training and practice), with a very well run program.

I was based in a large open plan office with around 80 desks. The atmosphere always had an undercurrent of conversation (work related) occasionly interspersed with more casual topics. The office was very friendly, with people from completely different service lines etc often striking up conversation at the coffee machine about who I was, how I was enjoying it etc. Haven't met anyone who hasn't been very friendly and there were frequent social days and evenings!

Initially I was a little confused at why I was being moved around audits so frequently but I soon realised that it reflects the job. All the managers were very willing to help shift me onto audits closer to my home to save on my commute (as I was using public transport), and I soon setteled into where I was going and when.

The firm undoubtedly invested heavily in me inviting me along to their away days for the permanment members of staff as well as the intern-specific training or networking courses. These were investments not only in the money spent on my attendance but in a more cultural sense of integrating me into the firms operations with introductions to a wide range of staff. From day 1 I was manually added (by people I didn't know) to mailing lists and JAM groups for things that were going on in the office.

I've been offered a job and am delighted to accept.

I was invited to several social events but unfortunatley lived far away from the office and couldn't attend. From what I hear it's good and I'll definetly try a bit harder to see whether I can get on some.

Liverpool isn't an expensive city to live so despite being in the prime central bussiness district, the shops surrounding the offices were reasonably priced.

Liverpool is a great city with a wide variety of activities to get up to!

There was a lot of sports related activities/tournaments organised for staff which I was invited to from early on. There was also regular emails about subsidised theatre/concert tickets and office-wide events for example a trip to a haunted house near Halloween.