Emmeline Brown
Semi Senior | Second Year Graduate Trainee
History | University of Liverpool
Internship
Job Offer
Start date
ACA Qualified
My Story
What first inspired you to pursue a career in audit?
As a student, if you’d told me that I would be training to be an auditor, I wouldn’t have believed you! I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career or understand what audit was about so, after graduating, I decided to take a year out which gave me the thinking time I needed.
I’ve always been inclined to think logically and although my degree may seem unrelated to audit, it’s surprising how many transferable skills I had. Studying history taught me to draw conclusions based on information so audit, which trains you to create reports using financial information, felt very similar.
Was there anything that surprised you as a new trainee?
My fellow trainees were a mix of music, engineering, history, geography, maths and accountancy graduates. I had expected to be working mainly with maths and business graduates, so was surprised to find that everyone in the audit team could have studied any degree at university.
How did you learn of SRLV and what first attracted you to apply for a position?
I decided it was time to get myself sorted and move to London when I was travelling as part of my gap year. SRLV’s job advert happened to pop up on my phone when I was on an overnight bus in Vietnam. I liked the company’s forward-thinking approach and it looked like a rewarding job, so I applied!
What was the application process like and what were your first impressions of SRLV?
My application went very smoothly. SRLV called me as soon as I got back home to North Yorkshire. I had a great day out for my interview and to my delight, I received my offer quickly.
I was sceptical that audit would be very male dominated, however, there’s an even mix at SRLV and 50% of the managers and directors are female. Both my interviewers were also women which was great to see. They were fine that I didn’t have a maths or business degree and wanted to get to know me and what I could bring to the job. We got on really well and by the end of the interview, I felt like SRLV was the right firm for me.
I was sceptical that audit would be very male dominated, however, there’s an even mix at SRLV and 50% of the managers and directors are women. Both my interviewers were also women which was great to see… we got on really well and by the end of the interview, I felt like SRLV was the right firm for me.
Emmeline Brown | Semi Senior | Second Year Graduate Trainee
MY TRAINING
How hard is the training and what support were you given?
The first year is a big transition, but I had such a supportive team to help me adjust and get through the exams. The managers here do their utmost to work with and support trainees. For example, when I was struggling with the exams, I spoke to my manager and we agreed to slow things down, so they were more manageable for me. Rather than being a burden, I felt really supported and valued as a person.
How does your experience compare with trainees you know from other firms?
I’ve never felt nervous about asking for help or for something to be explained again, which is refreshing. You hear about other firms and how competitive it can be. The dynamic at SRLV is very different. You don’t need to worry about how you compare to other trainees; no one here thinks they’re better than anyone else because someone’s asked a question.
What sort of work can first-year trainees expect?
Trainees are slowly introduced to different areas of audit and what an audit file looks like. Pre-Christmas, the focus is on the exams and supporting trainees through them, but after the New Year, you get booked out to clients and start to see how an audit takes place.
The first couple of months take some adjustment, but it does get easier as you put more of what you’re learning into practice. The experience you gain working on an audit brings it all to life. Not only are you getting insights into different industries like music, retail and hospitality and seeing all sides of a business and how it functions, you are also speaking to the people running it, which is fascinating.
My life at SRLV now
Does training to be an auditor limit your future career options?
Not at all – in fact, audit is a springboard to lots of different careers! Even if you don’t want to become an accountant, audit training helps you to understand businesses so you can speak to shareholders and business owners. This is an invaluable skill.
Has anything else about audit surprised you?
Audit is much more interesting than I’d imagined. There are many different perspectives you can have on a business but as an auditor, you need to ensure your report is a true and fair reflection of it and that you’re up to date with the latest finance legislation. Although the training can be challenging at times, ultimately, I’ve found it to be very rewarding.
How easy was it to settle in and meet other staff?
I feel lucky to be training with SRLV and to have settled in so quickly. Trainees are invited to their first social over the summer, so you get to meet your colleagues before you start. The socials are great and they try to get everyone together as much as possible.
There are times when you’ve got exams and can’t go to everything, but if you’ve missed an event, there are others. There are also times when the whole firm gets together, like the Christmas party, where you get to meet people who aren’t in your team. This takes away any apprehension for new starters or trainees when working with others across the firm.
What aspects of the training at SRLV do you like most?
Having a four-year training contract gives trainees extra breathing space and allows you to progress to Senior whilst studying at the same time. Also, everyone in the team has memories of doing their own exams and so they understand the stresses, which really helps.
Trainees get to ‘see behind the scenes’ of lots of different organisations. Previously, I had no idea how businesses worked. It’s exciting when you hear well-known brand names and learn about the clients we represent.
How much are trainees involved by their teams and trusted with client work?
It’s very collaborative between trainees and the rest of their teams. Managers talk you through the clients, and trainees are very involved in team meetings. It feels like your input is genuinely valued.
Trainees are trusted to get on with client work early on, with the support of their teams. If there’s ever a problem, you can always get help from a senior, but trainees are given the opportunity to show what they’re capable of, which is great for career progression. SRLV really does give you this chance to shine.
What do you like most about working at SRLV?
Diverse skills are valued here, and everyone thinks slightly differently which adds depth to our work. It’s great when all these skills come together; it gives you a real sense of belonging and that you’re part of a team, which is reflective of SRLV’s culture and the diversity of people working here.