We caught up with Gareth, a Corporate Assistant from Forvis Mazars, to hear about his journey to the firm and to uncover his top advice for anyone wishing to follow in his footsteps.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
After graduating in 2015 with a BA (Hons) in Music I completed a PGCE which led me to teach Music and Maths in a secondary school for 4 years. During the pandemic, I decided I wanted to change my career focus and looked to begin my journey to becoming an Accountant.
I then joined Forvis Mazars as an Audit Graduate in September 2020, working out of the Milton Keynes office.
What stood out to you about Forvis Mazars when applying for opportunities?
Whilst searching for opportunities, the people-orientated approach of Forvis Mazars drew me to apply. The firm clearly highlighted how it prioritises its peoples’ development as well as the fun, social environment they foster. This differentiated it from other firms in the industry and was a reason I wanted to join the team.
What do you enjoy most about working as a Corporate Assistant?
The thing I enjoy most about being a Corporate Assistant is the variety. Every day is different and there’s always an opportunity to learn something new. I’ve already worked on projects with a variety of clients, as well as participated in the activities of the wider firm – for example assisting with recruitment fairs and assessment days.
What is a ‘normal day’ like in your role as a Corporate Assistant?
A normal day typically starts with catching up with my team to discuss the audit client I’m currently working on. We also collaborate to plan the day ahead as well as solve any issues we might have with the audit.
Throughout the day I work on auditing the financial statements of my client. This requires me to collaborate with the client, my team and other departments within Forvis Mazars. It’s common to have some form of training, either from the Forvis Mazars training team or an external company, to support your professional development.
I like to make the most of my lunch hour by taking a walk, doing some exercise, or socialising with other colleagues. If I have exams coming up, I sometimes revise after work before logging off.
How would you describe the culture at Forvis Mazars?
The culture at Forvis Mazars is open and caring. You’ll often see Corporate Assistants chatting to partners and I feel this is unique to our firm. There’s also a great emphasis on celebrating people’s achievements, both formally and informally, and this motivates us to do our best.
What piece of advice would you give to someone who is thinking of applying to Forvis Mazars?
Research is key. I’d recommend researching Forvis Mazars to help you understand their position in the professional services market and where they’re trying to get to. If you’re looking to join Audit, reading up on Audit reform will help bolster your application and give you something to talk about in the interview.
If you’re looking to pursue a career in Audit, why not put Gareth’s advice into practice and apply for a role at Forvis Mazars? Discover the live opportunities here.