Ragavan Sathanandan
The best advice I can give is to be proactive and get involved in as many projects as you can.
The Recruitment Process
Overall I found the recruitment process to be excellent. At every stage, the recruitment team were always in touch with me regarding the status of my application and that helped alleviate a lot of the stress associated with applying for a job.
Why KPMG
At the numerous careers fairs and presentations I attended, KPMG really stuck out as being the perfect combination of professional and friendly. I had an excellent first impression of KPMG and further research showed that they had a great focus on investing in their own people, so KPMG was the only firm I wanted to work for after that.
I strongly believe that a firm is only as good as the people it employs, and I have the privilege of working with and learning from some of the smartest and most well respected individuals within tax. Everyone I’ve worked with has been incredibly friendly and happy to lend a helping hand when needed. There is a very real sense of community in the office – it’s a positive atmosphere that benefits everyone.
Qualifications and Support
I’m currently studying for the ICAS accountancy qualification and the CTA tax qualification. The support provided by KPMG in helping me achieve my qualifications, through its dedicated Tax Business School®, has been excellent, and it certainly had a positive impact on my results.
The best advice I can give is to be proactive and get involved in as many projects as you can. This has the added benefit of allowing you to get to know more people in a very large department!
Day-to-day
A typical day starts with a check on all of my clients for any outstanding work that needs doing. After that, I’ll review a tax computation for a client, following up with the manager on any points that needed to be raised with the client. Even at graduate level I’ve received great exposure to clients on a very regular basis, whether in meetings, phone calls or emails.
My afternoons are usually spent in meetings with managers discussing opportunities and scheduling work, with the rest of the day spent liaising with clients and completing any outstanding work. My work is often varied and never becomes monotonous.
My Advice
The best advice I can give is to be proactive and get involved in as many projects as you can. This has the added benefit of allowing you to get to know more people in a very large department!
I’d also recommend getting involved in the CSR opportunities. Most recently I took part in the Big Blue Kick where KPMG raised a substantial amount for Barnardo’s. There are also a number of social activities organised within the department ranging from 5-a-side football to karaoke nights!
Future Career Opportunities at KPMG
Tax is a very big department, and there are always opportunities available — whether in Corporation, Personal or Indirect Tax. The most important thing is being proactive in finding opportunities that reflect your career ambitions.
For more information, take a look at KPMG’s career website.
