Audit Summer Intern Review

I really enjoyed the 4 weeks I spent with KPMG at their Canary Wharf Office. I got to meet a large number of different staff members and go to visit a client site an undertake real audit work, whilst learning more about their grad scheme, helping me decide if this was a career I would be interested in.

The team I worked with at the client site were lovely to work with. They were always happy to help me when I had questions about work, and helped set up meetings with employees in other areas of the firm which I had an interest in. The 4 weeks passed really quickly and by the end I felt like part of the team.

Once I was working at the client site in the final 2 weeks the support was excellent. My People Manager was on the team and so got to know me really well and could complete the final evaluation in a detailed manor. The only area that could have been improved was on assigning my mentor (a current grad). I feel it would have been more beneficial if they had been working on the same client as me because then it would have been easier to discuss work.

As this was a first time audit, a large number of tasks that would usually have been done by employees at my grade were assigned to the next grade up. This meant that in the first 2 weeks I had less work than expected. However, once at the client site they gave me a range of jobs to carry out. I also used the first 2 weeks to get to know KPMG more as a firm- taking part in a SPRING Corporate Responsibility event and talking to a range of grads.

As I was completely new to audit there were obviously limitations in the jobs that I could be assigned. However, they did ask me to write up a research working paper, carry out analysis of exchange rates an summarize a Findings Report which then were sent to either the client or used as a basis for further audit work, so I felt that my work was contributing to the team.

I got to do Call and Cast which is something grads are expected to do in their first year and in doing so got a better understanding of Financial Statements, so I believe this will be helpful when joining the grad scheme. I also got to use excel a lot which has brought my knowledge of this program up to date. The grade scheme ran several skills sessions which I also attended, highlighting how to develop confidence, networking, communication skills etc.

I loved working in the smaller sub team whilst at the client site and everyone was really welcoming to me. The only slight negative that I found whilst at the office itself is the hot desk system meant that new grads/interns were often sat away from the bulk of the office staff. Whilst this has the benefit of allowing you to get to know your fellow grads well, it felt that there was perhaps a slight division with those in management and higher grades.

It was well structured and we were told in advance the timeline of events over the 4 weeks. My experience seemed to differ from other interns in that I was with one client for all 4 weeks whilst others had a range. This meant I got to know my team really well but when there was less work in the first 2 weeks I perhaps could have been helping another team. Organisation of the partner interview was good in that I requested it take place in the final week as I was off to another placement immediately and they were happy to sort this, however there was some confusion other which partner would be interviewing/ time of the interview. In the end though this was sorted out.

Grad scheme ran skills and networking sessions which we encouraged to attend. However, there wasn't any specific audit related training offered- given we were only there 4 weeks I'm not surprise though.

After the 4 weeks were up I could see myself working for KPMG. I had a final partner interview at the end of the internship and as this was successful was offered a place on their grad scheme, starting 2016.

There were several opportunities to meet with other interns at the skills sessions but there were no officially organised social events.

Working in London the main expense was a monthly travel card. However, you could claim travel expenses if it would be beyond your normal work travel area.

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I took part in a CR SPRING event, visiting a secondary school in North London to help teach about employability. If the internship was longer I suspect there would have been more social events/activiteis