Associate Review

I really enjoyed the three week Summer Vacation Scheme (SVS) in Audit. It was a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable work experience whilst getting an insight into Deloitte and Audit. The student recruitment team made every effort to make this internship memorable by organising lunch, dinner and informal events which was a good chance to expand my network. As part of my internship, I was involved in 'real' project work.

As part of the scheme, I was assigned two SVS champions who helped to make sure that I was put on the right clients within the department and basically ensure that everything runs smoothly throughout the three weeks. Furthermore, I was partnered with a buddy within the department. She was my informal point of contact and helped me to get to know the 1st years, Both my champions an buddy were really warm and friendly.

During my internship, I worked with a number of senior managers assisting them with their audit engagement files. My managers were really supportive as they were willing to answer any questions I had despite their busy work schedule. They would go through the documents I had prepared and advice me of any changes to make. Therefore, working with them, made my learning experience fruitful.

As it was not the busy audit period, my managers were finding it a bit difficult to assign me with work and to add to that, as I was a fairly quick learner, I used finish preparing the documents quickly and therefore, the managers had to find more work for me to do to keep me occupied. Along with preparing documents, I used to carry out testing such as on drawdowns and tied in stats. Also, I had to scan financial statements reports. One of my managers whom I worked with for two weeks would spend extra time in the evening explaining in detail to me the background about the audit engagement that I was working on.

One of my senior managers asked me to prepare information memos about the different investments of a company and as part of this work, I used to interact with senior people in the company in order to get information about financial statements. I also completed drawdowns testing successfully which would be used in November thus helping the audit engagement team to complete one of the main time consuming testing in advance.

Although I have only been on work experience for a few weeks, when I join Deloitte, I would benefit from increasing my familiarity with formats of financial statements and combined leadsheets so I will be able to tie in notes such as debtors and creditors more easily which I had found tieing in figures harder initially. I think I should develop my client relationship skills further so that it will serve me well in whichever career path I choose. Furthermore, the training I received in audit would be very helpful in my future career in audit.

In my office, the atmosphere was very formal like in any other top firm. However, the atmosphere in my department was very relaxed and friendly. Everyone in the department would work with each other and enjoy lunch breaks as a group.

The internship was well organised as the student recruitment team was constantly in touch by email. They prepared a profile book and provided hoodies as a memento. The SVS champions and buddy introduced themselves before the internship began which I found was very beneficial.

There was division specific training provided which I found useful as I did not have much knowledge about audit before that.

Along with being a top four firm, I think the culture of Deloitte really suited me. Therefore, I would really like to work for Deloitte in the future. Auditors will always be in demand and therefore, Deloitte is looking to recruit new graduates very year,

The other interns were also very formal and friendly adding to the experience of working in a top firm.

As the office was located in central London, the cost of living and socialising was fairly high.

There were many pubs/ bars in the area making it a good place for nightlife after a hectic day in the office.

As interns in Deloitte, we could get involved in activities such as recruitment however, the SVS students had organised numerous activities thus leaving not much time to get involved in other activities.