Insider profil
Top Insider Advice
We all start our career as a beginner, so don't be afraid to seek additional help or clarification if you require it. There really is no such thing as a silly question, so ask as many as you need! I believe that the best way to learn is to ask questions. This will show initiative and highlights your ability to communicate with colleagues.
Career path
Assurance Associate
EY UK
From 09/2024 to 12/2024Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
Personally, the career progression opportunities that are available at EY continually motivate me to strive for excellence- meeting deadlines, producing high quality work and effectively communicating with my colleagues. The learning opportunities that are available, such as the Chartered Accountant qualification, also motivate me as I can develop my skills and knowledge. Finally, I like that you are exposed to a wide range of clients and industries and that you are able to work in different audit teams, improving your network and collaboration skills.
Greatest achievements
Since only joining the firm a few months back, my greatest achievement has definitely been completing my first year of ICAS. I found the experience very challenging at times but finding out I had achieved first time passes made all the studying extremely worth it.
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Izzie P
Top Insider Advice
Everyone has certain personality traits or skills which they develop throughout school or university, which they might not even be aware of - they do not have to be technical/academic! Soft skills are so important in the world of work, and it's important to reflect on what you are good at and what sort of roles will sort this skill set. For example, if you're a friendly person who is good at making others feel comfortable, a client facing role might suit you better. On the other hand, if you have high organizational skills, you might excel in a job where you work on several projects/clients at one time. It might seem obvious, but excelling at work, especially in your first few years, is usually much more to do with your personality than your technical knowledge or understanding. Find a job where the working style comes naturally to you, and you'll be able to dedicate more effort to learning and developing.
Ross W
Top Insider Advice
Something I've learnt a lot in this role - as cliche as it may sound - is that whenever you have doubts about something in your line of work, it's best to ask for a second opinion. Especially when you're new to the role, it can seem a little embarrassing having to ask a question every five minutes (for me, the one that stands out is having to ask whether I was allowed to use the office milk with my afternoon cup of tea), but there's really nothing to be afraid of. Everyone wants to see you do well - your manager wants to see you develop; your team want you to contribute effectively to the engagement; and the client wants to make sure that they're getting as much as possible out of your audit. Something to keep in mind is that you'll be working with people who were in your shoes not too long before you! On my first engagement, I've been lucky enough to work with my assigned "Buddy" (a member of staff a year ahead of you in your programme/apprenticeship), as well as a "Senior" (a newly qualified member of staff, usually with about 3-4 years of experience). They've been really good at reminding me that they had the same questions a year or two previously. You'll also have other graduates/business apprentices at the same stage as you - make sure you help each other along the way!
