We treat our clients as individuals and we treat our staff the same way. Follow the links to learn more about our trainees'and experienced staff's experiences.
Liz, trainee (ICAEW), Audit Services Group, London Office
Graduate of Accounting and Finance from the University of East Anglia
I've wanted to be an accountant since I was 13. The advantage of my accounting degree was that I already understood the basics of accounting when I joined Moore Stephens, although it can be difficult to switch from how information was taught at university to how it is taught for ACA exams.
Working in audit is a valuable experience as you gain insight into a range of businesses. I really enjoy the variety of jobs and meeting new clients. One of my clients is a large retail chain and may require spending a few weeks in their offices. Conversely, preparing accounts for a small property management firm may only take a few days. Last winter, I went to Oslo on two 'away jobs'. Although we worked hard, we also had time to explore the city. You get to know your colleagues well when you're doing 'away jobs'watching the six-nations rugby together in the only English pub in Oslo was certainly an experience!
Moore Stephens encourages you to get to know people across departments. People look out for each other and you know you can ask for help. Our induction programme involved new ACA, CA and AAT trainees from different departments. We met managers and partners in our first week which gave us insight into how the firm works. Our internal and exam training involves staff across the whole firm, so you meet a lot of people you don't ordinarily work with. I've met colleagues not only from the London firm, but also the Moore Stephens association firms in the Isle of Man and Monaco.
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Matthew, trainee (ICAEW), Business Tax Group, London office
Graduate of History from Royal Holloway, University of London
After obtaining my History degree, I wanted to gain the ACA qualification as it is well respected and a firm basis for a range of future careers. I also wanted to work in a firm where I could access managers'and partners'professional expertise and which offered many career opportunities. Moore Stephens stood out as a Top 20 firm which would provide me with the experience I sought.
I chose to work in tax because of the variety of tasks it can offer. My jobs range from preparing part of a £50 million company's profit and loss sheet to speaking with representatives of HM Revenue and Customs. Tax requires a lot of problem-solving abilities and you are continually learning and testing your knowledge, both at work and in exams. Each client is different and you require a different approach to their specific situation. I particularly enjoy tax planning where we assist organisations to minimise the predicted tax liabilities they will need to pay. We recently assisted a client to reduce their tax bill by £10 000 within the course of a conference call, which was a great feeling!
From day one I have been given more responsibility than I expected which can be daunting but is a great challenge. As I progress, I am exposed to new areas of work and spend more time guiding junior staff. Everyone at Moore Stephens, from trainees to partners, is very approachable and the emphasis is on creating a pleasant working environment. I think it's a great place to work!
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Zara, trainee (ICAEW), Audit Services Group, London Office
Graduate of Combined Arts from Durham University
I took a gap year after finishing university and travelled through South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. I also volunteered in Romania. After arriving back home, I considered my career options but kept returning to accountancy. I knew I wanted to work in a medium-sized firm where I would get to know people more closely and be given support to complete my ACA qualification.
Moore Stephens was definitely the friendliest firm throughout the application process which was very important to me. The Moore Stephens assessment day was very much a two-way process. We met with partners and senior staff which showed me how much our recruitment mattered to them. We were encouraged to ask questions and were given the opportunity to meet with current trainees who were very positive and honest about their experiences.
I really like the variety of my role, and it's great when you learn something at college and then see it in practice. The more you learn, the more things fit together. Studying the ACA is very intensive and very different to how you learn at university. It's more like A-level study with classes from 9am until 4.30pm. You can succeed without an accounting degree as the tutors are very approachable, however it is a lot of work. You can balance study with work and a social life. Close to exam time I do sacrifice my social life, but it is only for a couple of weeks. And it's worthwhile when you pass!
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Alex, qualified CA (ICAS), Insurance Industry Group, London office
Graduate of Economics from University of St Andrews
I started my career at Moore Stephens with work experience during my gap year. This gave me an insight into the firm's culture and encouraged me to apply for a graduate role.
After finishing university, I joined the audit team as a trainee CA. Audit is a fantastic way to understand how businesses work as you gain a unique insight into the inner workings of the client's organisation. However audit is as much about the interpersonal skills as it is technical skills.
I've worked with shipping, insurance, charity and various other clients. One of my clients was a business who supplied UN troops with catering and other supplies. This allowed me to travel to Uganda and Tanzania and the timing meant that I spent New Years Eve with the UN staff. I was also seconded to Lloyd's of London, the specialist insurance market, where I worked with world-class experts and learned a great deal about this industry. After I qualified as a CA, I was seconded for six months to Moore Stephens in Australia and after returning, specialised in the insurance industry.
I now manage a fee portfolio of £1 million and although there is no typical day, I could be meeting with clients to check the work of my team or providing business advice and solutions to my clients. I enjoy assisting my clients to solve their business problems as well as watching my team of trainees develop.
I am also a member of the ICAS England and Wales Area Board where we work to ensure that ICAS services the needs of its members within England and Wales. This provides the opportunity to meet with senior business leaders.
I've made a lot of friends at Moore Stephens and enjoy the fact that the firm encourages you to develop your own business interests as well as take advantage of the international association.
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