"The merging of Audit & Advisory aspects grants me a holistic picture, and I have been learning to assess a company’s financial state. My work is really varied, and this range not only corresponds to my original interests, but also broadens my horizons of experience and knowledge."
KPMG offers an exciting graduate program in the field of Audit & Advisory to students like Ella. Over the span of four years, she will not only be trained to become a Swiss Certified Accountant, but will also receive specialist training in the Advisory sector.
The graduate program allows her to gain insight into two different departments. Specifically, Ella will take on a dual role, spending at least six months each year in the Audit Corporates practice and four months with the Accounting Advisory Services team.
But how to know if this graduate program is right for you? What are its challenges? And what is the best way to master the balancing act between work and study? We address these and other questions in our chat with Ella.
Ella, what does your yearly school schedule generally look like?
Audit season tends to start in November and last until April, then from May through October, I work in Accounting Advisory. This time is divided into two months of schooling for my qualification as a certified accountant and three to four months of work in Advisory.
The module exams and training days at EXPERTsuisse are held mostly in summer. Training days count as work days, meaning we don’t need to make up for them during vacation.
Why did you choose to do the four-year graduate program in the field of Audit & Advisory?
I have always been interested in balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements. Financial reports embody the “language of business,” as Warren Buffett put it, and that’s the language I wanted to learn.
During an audit, we assess the balance sheets, income statements and other reports generated by a given company. For example, we’ll check to see whether corporate accounts have been maintained in accordance with Swiss and international accounting standards.
In Accounting Advisory, I have the opportunity to develop solutions to accounting issues or assist clients in preparing their financial reports. I actively participate in customer projects and consult both national and international customers from various industries.
The merging of these aspects grants me a holistic picture, and I have been learning to assess a company’s financial state. My work is really varied, and this range not only corresponds to my original interests, but also broadens my horizons of experience and knowledge.
What support does KPMG provide?
KPMG pays me for my school days, which allows me to focus on learning, and covers my school costs. During year four, in cooperation with EXPERTsuisse, they also offer basic and advanced courses internally, which are a huge help for all the final exams. What I value most, though, is learning on the job, as KMPG really supports my continued development and allows me to take on new roles.
What was the greatest challenge you faced during the four-year graduate program?
I started at KPMG straight out of university. As a student, I had learned about various theories, concepts and models, but applying these things in practice turned out to be far more difficult than I anticipated. Every business is unique, with its own quirks and requirements. The challenge was to tailor what I had learned to the respective customers and their specific traits. At the same time, it gave me the opportunity to apply that learning to a host of different situations and companies, thus expanding my expertise.
What are your career prospects after completing the dual program?
Graduating from the dual program with a degree as a certified accountant opens up a huge range of professional prospects. One option would be to stay in Audit and pursue my occupation as a certified accountant. At the same time, I could be an asset to another team at KPMG or at a different organization altogether. I could also work full-time in Advisory, concentrating solely on corporate consulting.
Who would you encourage to consider this type of apprenticeship? What skills and background should they have?
I would encourage anyone who is interested in accounting and numbers, and who’s excited about learning new things, to consider it. The program provides an excellent basis for acquiring a range of knowledge, from the work in Advisory and solid training to become a certified accountant, to the integrated learning on the job.
In university you learn in broad theoretical strokes. Implementing those theories in the real world is where true mastery comes into play. It’s a connection that I find extremely exciting. In addition to broadening and deepening technical knowledge, the graduate program also teaches skills in project management, customer contact, team leadership and more. Every day brings a new setup and unique challenges. It all makes for an exciting and varied experience.