What level of technical proficiency is expected of audit graduates, and what skills you find most valuable in your work?

Hi Daria, On joining the Audit Graduate Scheme, you aren't expected to have any audit technical knowledge. Most Audit Graduates did not study Accounting at Uni. We simply look for people who have a keen interest in launching their career in Audit, and who have strong analytical and problem solving skills, which certainly help in audit work

Dear Mohammad, Thank you for your answer. I am a third-year Finance student, so my coursework is quite heavy on accounting and finance knowledge. However, technology is significantly shaping the audit profession nowadays. I'm currently learning Python to enhance my technical skills. Would you say that programming or data analytics skills are becoming increasingly important for audit graduates at EY?

So programming and data analytics skills aren't mandatory for audit graduates, but it is a huge bonus and can help you stand out. I am the AI Champion in my department and having some extra knowledge in these areas can help you build your personal brand and potentially help out your colleagues

That's really helpful, thank you! I'll definitely continue investing time in developing those skills. I know the audit programme is highly competitive - out of curiosity, roughly how many graduates does EY's audit team typically take on each year in the London office?

Great question!
As an audit graduate, no one expects you to know everything on day one. What really helps is having a good grasp of the basics—accounting and auditing standards—and being comfortable using tools like EY Canvas and starting to explore data analytics.

What makes the biggest difference, though, are your soft skills:

• Curiosity and critical thinking – asking “why” and digging deeper.
• Communication – explaining things clearly and working well with your team.
• Adaptability – being open to new tech and ways of working.

If you bring a willingness to learn, stay curious, and work collaboratively, you’ll do great. The technical side will grow with experience!

Thanks so much for that insight, Lucky!

Hi, thanks for your question! Just to add my perspective as a recent graduate, I'd agree with Mohammad and Lucky that you're not expected to walk into the office on your first day and know how to deliver the perfect audit. Many of my colleagues had not studied accountancy before starting at EY, and this hasn't been an issue for them. There are plenty of online training modules that you'll complete in your first year to help you gain the necessary technical skills, and you'll also learn plenty from studying for your chartership qualification.

I would also say that I personally find the best way to develop technical skills is through client work - whenever I am assigned an area I haven't worked on before, I ask a senior or the manager to walk me through what we're aiming to do. There is a lot of emphasis placed on coaching and helping you to develop your professional and technical skills while working with clients, so don't be afraid to ask questions or admit when you're unsure of something!