Internship Review at KPMG

The Role

Role Description

I worked with the Public Sector Audit team in KPMG. After two days of training, I was very quickly staffed on client work and spent most of my time out of the Canary Wharf office at a variety of locations around London. The work was quite varied - one of the benefits was rotation around a number of clients (I was on about 6 different clients in my 2 month internship). The work ranged from internal to external audit. Internal was more interesting, involving making positive recommendations to improve things that an organisations accounts department do. External audit is focused on ensuring the accounts are correct and clearing up any discrepancies. To do both of these I worked closely with my colleagues at KPMG, who were all really useful and approachable, and accounts departments at clients sites (who were not so friendly!). I was allowed to take responsibility reasonably early - by the end of my time I was producing my own completed files for review with no formal support (but help wherever needed).

1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

The people at KPMG were great - but it is a challenge working with other accounts departments who do not always want you to be there!

2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Again, the people were great, and I always got given feedback on the things I'd done

3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

There were always things to do, but the nature of the job dealing with clients means you're often stuck to their timetable - this was good, I was always out of the office quite early.

5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

I was given responsibility for producing my own audit files for review.

6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

Well, I did an arts degree...!

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

Again, I spent most of my time in small teams on clients' sites, so I didn't see as much of the atmosphere in KPMG's Canary Wharf as I'd have liked - that said, everyone I met was great.

8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Very good mentoring.

9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

I think the initial two-day training session could have been longer - almost all the learning I did was on the job.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

• Subsidised Canteen
• Company Parties/Events

11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

They have a really good development programme once you're in, if this is what you want to do.

Other Information

12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

It's London - it's worth paying for but it's expensive!

14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

See above ...!

15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

KPMG have some good CSR events, but I didn't have the chance to explore much else as I was out of the main office.

In addition to these questions, is there any extra information you would like to leave about your experiences on your work placement that other students may be interested in?

I would definitely apply - my department was under the IGH department which deals with a lot of interesting public sector clients if you think this might be what you're interested in.

Review 141/141 for KPMG

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