Tax Assistant Review

With this placement you are able to work in two different tax teams for 6 months each. In both teams the main role was to prepare tax returns but in one team this was for individuals and the in the other team this was for companies. Preparing tax returns involved using the client's information to draft tax computations, adding notes for the reviewers and then updating the computations based on the review points. It also involved drafting emails for the managers to send, preparing due diligence and calls to both HMRC and clients.

I have a greatly increased knowledge of tax and the process that each employee goes through when joining as a graduate such as the exams that would need to be taken. I have an increased confidence in speaking to clients and colleagues. Through the repetition of preparing tax returns I have become much more organised and confident in the work that I was doing. I also have a great understanding now of professionalism and what it is like to work in a corporate environment.

My manager has given me feedback saying that I was treated like any other graduate and therefore was able to work to the standard of any other graduate. This made me feel really pleased as I feel that I have had the opportunity to experience exactly what a proper graduate job would be like here and not just a short term role. I have been given opportunities to get involved with all different aspects of the job and have been encouraged to even try different job roles.

From both of my teams during the placement I received a great deal of support. At the start there was structured training to work through to learn the systems but the most helpful part was actually starting the work and learning on the job. I frequently asked for help from people at the same level as me and also the managers and they always made time to help me and never allowed me to feel like an inconvenience.

Although this was a corporate role, it felt more relaxed than how some of the big four come across which meant it was a good step into a professional role for me. There were lots of social events within the team as well as the whole office which was a good way to meet more people and make friends quickly. I think this more relaxed environment made it easy for me to settle in relatively easily and quickly.

I would say that I had a great placement year at RSM. Overall, I learnt what it was like to work in a financial job role which is something that really interests me. I was able to see not just what working in Tax would be like but also other roles such as Accounts and Audit. It has been a great way to get a feel of an office based job and I would recommend anyone else looking to see what this environment is like to look at a placement at RSM.

Yes

To anyone else applying to RSM I would say look at the values of RSM as this is something that is really important to the company and you learn a lot about when starting the job role. I would also say think about the skills that you already have and how you think you could apply them to this new environment but also be honest about what you want to gain from the job and the skills you want to develop there.