Company: KPMG
Date: 2019-05-09
Overall rating: 1/5
Employment status: current
Experience level: Junior

High hopes and expectations, experience fell way short
Pros: 1. You join with an intake of like minded people, it is easy to build relationships with other trainees.
2. Lunch allowance.
Cons: 1. Study package for ACA delivered by BPP is predominantly delivered remotely, the first face to face college time I had was a year into the training programme. Therefore college time does not also involve developing relationships with colleagues, for many trainees this is a large pull for the job.  
2.  Lack of support for study from engagement managers - many instances of not being given the timetabled study time for the ACA.  Often being told you have too much study for exams the manager thinks are easy (in many instances the manager has completed a different qualification, not the ACA, so do not know what the exams entail).  
3. No work/life balance - most weeks from September to April/May have been 60 hours at least, mainly due to a lack of headcount in the department.
4. Lack of variety for trainees - many trainees stay on the same client for 3 years.  Give trainees a rounded experience of different departments and different industries, this may help retention rates.