How did you get your job at Duncan & Toplis?

I grew up in Lincolnshire and knew of the company due to their large presence in the East Midlands. I was certain I didn’t want to work in a big city and was keen to work for a medium size firm where I felt there would be more opportunities to develop my skills and future career prospects. I met a member of the Duncan & Toplis HR team at my university careers fair and applied for a graduate role online straight after. Part of the recruitment process was completing a personality profile and an aptitude and ability test followed by an interview with HR. I was then invited to have an interview with a Director and Associate Director. I felt really welcomed at all stages of the recruitment process, everyone was friendly and approachable.

What is it like working for Duncan & Toplis?

Since I started, the role has continued to develop considerably. In my first week I visited a client and I have gone from carrying out basic auditing testing to now leading my own audits. I own my jobs from the planning to the completion stages and have to liaise with clients on a daily basis. I also get to work with a varied client base in a range of differing industries including engineering, manufacturing, pensions and academies. Getting such in-depth experience whilst being fully supported has been an amazing experience and has really helped with my studies and preparation for exams.

What is the training like at Duncan & Toplis?

The training has been a great experience, from the start you receive a well-rounded training package, with the ACA training being at the forefront. Full support is offered by more experienced trainees, managers and Directors which really helped me when revising for my exams. External training courses are hosted at our offices to update our technical knowledge on a regular basis to ensure our CPD is updated at all times. In addition Management Development training is also provided in-house which has helped to provide me with the skills to lead a team on audit and develop new trainees coming through, as well as skills for my future career.

What skills do you need to succeed?

In addition to the technical knowledge and expertise that is expected from you, excellent communication skills are essential as you have to be able to talk to Finance Directors and Managing Directors along with being able to build relationships quickly. As it is such a varied role, you have to be able to adapt to situations and be able to work under pressure at times when deadlines are looming. The training I have received has really helped to develop these skills and my manager offers full support and guidance to help me succeed.

What is the work life balance like?

Studying and working can be demanding but at the same time very rewarding. Duncan & Toplis put on a variety of social events and encourage all team members to get involved. These events are not only good fun but they also give you the opportunity to meet team members at the different offices.