All about Accountancy Graduate Schemes
Start Your Career with Accountancy Graduate Schemes
If you are very clear with your dream to have an excellent accountant career than looking out for an accountancy graduate scheme is a good idea. Joining a graduate scheme can lead you directly to your accountancy career, offering you an endless experience with a professional service firm.
An accounting graduate scheme is a work-based training programme that allows the graduates who have completed their degree or are about to do so, to gain practical experience with a company. Thus, these companies give them a head-start into the world of work.
The structure of the graduate schemes differs as per employer and industry, but it will normally involve training, mentoring, and hands-on work in different areas of the organisation.
To apply for a scheme, it is a must for a student to have some work experience, however, the lack of technical skills are not considered a disadvantage, as the student gain them while working. The applicants with a range of skills obtained during their studies can be successfully transferred to a graduate scheme. These skills include commercial awareness, planning and relationship building
To gain experience, it is essential to be open to different learning experiences from the early years of your university career. During your study, you can engage in different activities that will help you develop these skills, such as part-time jobs during studies, work placements during holidays or volunteering and charity work.
If you are sure that accountancy is your dream career, then applying for a placement in your first or second year of studies is a good idea, as this can give you a way to gain experience.
Eligibility & Application Process for Accountancy Graduates Scheme
Most of the companies offering the Accountancy Graduates Scheme look-out for the graduate, who has achieved a 2.1 degree or above from an analytical subject such as sciences, accounting or business, sometimes. Some companies do consider the applicants with a 2.2 degree, provided they will be able to back up their skills with other appropriate experience or accountancy qualifications.
The deadlines for application may vary depending upon the particular graduate scheme or organisation, however, the graduates need to apply for the position within the first term of their final year of university. The application process for an accounting graduate scheme is quite lengthy and competitive, as some companies will select the best candidate based on their results in an online test and face-to-face interview with assessments.
Apart from study-related skills, the applicant must prove a positive attitude, be interested in learning new things, show problem-solving skills as well be able to work with the team, have analytical as well as written and verbal communication skills. All these skills are transferable and will be used from the core of a career with any professional service firm.
Accounting graduate scheme is step towards employment after finishing the university course. From the very beginning the accountancy firm will involve the students in a lot of real-time experience of working with actual clients’ projects.
The duration of the scheme differs from company to company, i.e., typically depends on the type of firm you have joined, such as corporate finance, tax, audit, consulting or technology. It usually lasts between one to three years. Once completing the scheme, many graduates continue working for the company and learn more before starting their own independent career.
In the office, the graduates are expected to conduct researches, attend industrial events and seminars and prepare presentations and other related work for the client. This unique opportunity to work on-site with the client will expose the graduates to different experiences of pitching for work, interviewing staff members for further information and taking briefs from the clients.
Will this Accountancy Graduate Scheme Pay to these Graduates?
Yes! These graduate schemes are paid, despite the field of work. Of course, the jobs involve a large amount of training and self-development, and thus the salaries will be as per a full-time employee, rather than an internship or unpaid work experience.
Benefits of Accountancy Graduate Scheme
One of the main advantages of the accountancy graduate scheme is that they do provide certain unique opportunities that are open to everyone, school leavers and graduates. They provide an appropriate experience that allows you decide out what career path is better for you.
The scheme provides an entry-level position for anyone who has recently completed their university studies, as well as full training, development, and support, to the graduates, enabling them to move on with an advanced role within an organisation.