Cadetships 2014 (5 Viewers)

[Chronost]

@chrono and anyone else currently on an accounting (the most popular) cadetship:
What field of accounting are you in (or do some companies have flexi programs?), and what do you actually do?
i.e., write reports, check business inventory, get coffee for your boss P) ??

I'm in Audit/Assurance(seen in various places around my profile ),every accounting firm understands that alot people don't know which area of accounting they wish to go into, but they do want someone who has an idea,therefore in basically every application you will see a box for the field you are interested in and usually why(or describe). I know PwC has a training "camp" for their first years to let them get a better idea of which area they wish to be in and specialise later,for some firms like mine,you are in a general accounting area like Audit but it you do not specialise until much later(and even then you aren't specialised you are just selecting whichever field of engagements you wish to do),this suits some and others not as much who wish to focus on a particular field in their career (jack of all trades, master of none). Then there is also an area which some mid-tiers and small tiers have which is business services(or something with business in it's name), this typically incompasses many areas of accounting for clients with smaller businesses,and usually do anything ranging from tax to audit reports.

Overall research each area of accounting before doing your application, it helps alot! and also helps decide if you want to do accounting as a career or in university,etc..I know this wasn't your exact question but i had a feeling it would evenuate to this haha.

I'm actually just about to start next week, so the best person to ask what you actually do is Jinks who has started his cadetship quite a while ago.

 

[esaitchkay]

Thanks for the reply chrono! I was thinking about auditing, since it seems like it'll provide a good foundation for specialisation. Concurrently, I don't want to be doing menial tasks (all the time). I will definitely do some more research I am mostly sure that I want to do accounting, but I mean, how many 17 year olds know what they want to do? I'm 100% sure my mind will continually change over the years, but that's life eh.
Keep us updated on how your cadetship is going

 

[Jinks]

@chrono and anyone else currently on an accounting (the most popular) cadetship:
What field of accounting are you in (or do some companies have flexi programs?), and what do you actually do?
i.e., write reports, check business inventory, get coffee for your boss P) ??

What you do is largely going to depend on what area you end up in and what team specifically so it's hard to say, however you definitely won't be getting coffee for your boss haha! Coming into an accounting firm as a cadet you'll probably be the youngest, but this in no way means you'll have no responsibility. Largely you'll be treated as a graduate coming into the firm and doing the same sort of tasks, at the start these are obviously going to be basic until you start building up your technical knowledge and skill set. Of course the more time you spend at the firm the more you learn the more complex the work becomes, all you have to do is prove that you're willing to learn and up to the basic tasks they set and you should progress fine!

 

[ilikecats]

And though I totally haven't logged in to this site in ages, if anybody has any questions about mid-tier or smaller firms, let me know! (Also if your looking at Insolvency or Tax, I could be of assistance!)

Can't believe I've been working for over two years now! Starting to think about post-grad life and I'm not even close to finishing yet! Time really files away once you leave school and start working!

 

[seremify007]

And though I totally haven't logged in to this site in ages, if anybody has any questions about mid-tier or smaller firms, let me know! (Also if your looking at Insolvency or Tax, I could be of assistance!)

Can't believe I've been working for over two years now! Starting to think about post-grad life and I'm not even close to finishing yet! Time really files away once you leave school and start working!

LOL I agree. Feels like only yesterday I was starting my cadetship as an 18 year old with no expectations other than to get coffee and photocopy. How times change (our newbies don't get the luxury of simple tasks.. they're forced to think from the start now!).

 

[esaitchkay]

hnnng tfw UBS cadetships are open, but closes before I get my year 12 report (did quite terrible in year 11). I'm aware that academia isn't everything, but surely they screen those results before they even look at your written responses? Are there any other finance cadetships, or is it just UBS left over post-GFC?

 

[Glaeder]

For UBS marks appear to be a big priority, most finance roles you need to have a good/great academic score.
And UBS is the only finance cadetship being advertised so far I think.

 

[esaitchkay]

hm apparently my school doesn't give out ranks to anyone, lmao. not sure if good or bad thing - will have to find out from the program coordinator.

 

[seremify007]

hm apparently my school doesn't give out ranks to anyone, lmao. not sure if good or bad thing - will have to find out from the program coordinator.

doubt it'll have a huge impact on cadetship apps.

 

[Rorschach]

Hi guys/girls,
I'm new to this thread but have read through the 2013 cadetship thread.
I've been pretty set on wanting to do an accounting cadetship for a while now (big 4 hopefully - opportunities are more limited in Melbourne than in Sydney in terms of which firms offer it I think). I have a few questions that I'm unsure about though:
What's the work life balance like as a cadet? I understand that post-uni busy season entails long hours, but does that apply to cadets as well? I ask because 1) social life/time for uni and 2) I'm considering joining the army reserves (would this be supported by a big 4 firm?). Basically - what's the time commitment like?
Also, when does a cadetship start? January? February? March with uni?
Thanks in advance

 

[Glaeder]

Yes the cadets are also required to work long hours during busy season, at least all the cadets I have spoken to have said as much.
I don't know much about the army reserve so I can't really say, but wouldn't the reserves take up a fair bit of your time too?

The starting dates depends upon the firm and which department you are in.

 

[Rorschach]

Thanks for clearing that up Glaeder.
Reserves is only 1 night a week and a weekend a month (nights start around 7) once training is done (hence the question about starting dates). I wonder if that would fit in with a cadetship in busy season?

 

[Chronost]

Thanks for clearing that up Glaeder.
Reserves is only 1 night a week and a weekend a month (nights start around 7) once training is done (hence the question about starting dates). I wonder if that would fit in with a cadetship in busy season?

I reckon it'll be a bit hard to juggle army reserves,cadetship, plus uni commitments. Reserves might only be 1 night a week,but there will be nights where you have to sit until 7 or over (very rarely even up to 10pm at busy season), and eventually this will be a conflict many times, plus there's more then one busy season during the year. Why do you wish to do army reserves at the same time?

 

[Rorschach]

I reckon it'll be a bit hard to juggle army reserves,cadetship, plus uni commitments. Reserves might only be 1 night a week,but there will be nights where you have to sit until 7 or over (very rarely even up to 10pm at busy season), and eventually this will be a conflict many times, plus there's more then one busy season during the year. Why do you wish to do army reserves at the same time?

Yeah I figured as much, although I still reckon I'll ask firms about it on the CA night. I want to do reserves as it's something I've always wanted to do and would like to get in as soon a I can - I'll keep my options open and see what the firms say

 

[seremify007]

It should fit in fine and you'll need to be upfront about it with the people you work with if you are offered a cadetship. Just keep in mind that at times you may need to be flexible.

 

[Jinks]

It should fit in fine and you'll need to be upfront about it with the people you work with if you are offered a cadetship. Just keep in mind that at times you may need to be flexible.

^ this

There is no set rule to start/finish times and staying late but everyone is expected to do their part, if there is one night a week you know for a fact you can't stay back and it's busy, get into work at 7 or work straight through your lunch break. For the most part (depending on the division and busy times) you'll be able to get away to make your commitment.

Most of the large firms push for a positive work/life balance for all of their staff and are happy to support what you're doing!

If you're working full-time with the day off for uni a weekend a month might be a struggle however, unless you can get your uni readings, tute work, assignments done at nights (easier said than done after work), but if you're someone who can do that then go for it.

Social-life might suffer while all your mates are on holidays and you're working but weekends you'll just be like anyone else, for the most part during the semester everyone settles down anyway so you don't miss a heap. You'll also develop a new social life around work as a lot of the firms have a young culture so things like lunches/coffees/dinners happen regularly and something you'll get to be a part of!

tl;dr Work is generally pretty flexible around what you're doing but you still need to get the work done at some point

 

[Rorschach]

Awesome that makes me really happy to hear that, thanks a lot Seremify and Jinks.
Now just the wait for the applications to open...
On a side note, with the online application for EY and PwC, I can't find anything in regards to how it is actually set out. Do we attach a CV or resumé or do we fill in boxes online in response to questions on why we want to join that firm, why we think we would be suitable etc?

 

[Chronost]

Awesome that makes me really happy to hear that, thanks a lot Seremify and Jinks.
Now just the wait for the applications to open...
On a side note, with the online application for EY and PwC, I can't find anything in regards to how it is actually set out. Do we attach a CV or resumé or do we fill in boxes online in response to questions on why we want to join that firm, why we think we would be suitable etc?

When the applications open, you'll be able to have a look...
usually it's fill in boxes online to questions,but many firms will also want you to attach a resume/CV

 

[Jinks]

Awesome that makes me really happy to hear that, thanks a lot Seremify and Jinks.
Now just the wait for the applications to open...
On a side note, with the online application for EY and PwC, I can't find anything in regards to how it is actually set out. Do we attach a CV or resumé or do we fill in boxes online in response to questions on why we want to join that firm, why we think we would be suitable etc?

As Chronost said it's a bit of a mix, generally online application with the option to attach a resume at the end (not always necessary). Smaller firms will probably do resume only, but if you're in Melbourne there isn't a heap of smaller firms that do cadetships

 

[Rorschach]

Alright thanks guys, much appreciated