Just finished the ACA on the Deloitte Brightstart Apprenticeship Scheme, AMA :)

Hi all,

Thought I’d come on here as I finally passed the final ACA exam on Friday which concludes my School Leaver Apprenticeship with Deloitte, and when I started I really could’ve done with having someone to ask questions to. Little bit about me:

-Joined in 2017, the program is initially meant to be 4 years long but it took me 5
-I’m in Audit in a regional office, but also work in London
-Yes, I have failed a couple of exams

Feel free to ask any questions :smile:

(edited 2 years ago)

Reply 1

ajj2000

20

Well done! When does your TC finish? What are your plans now?

Reply 2

user6437648

1

Hi, I'm starting the same course at Deliotte in a couple weeks and I had a couple questions:

Does anyone get kicked out of the programme if they don't pass any exams for the ACA?
Maths wise, is there a lot of difficult maths in the exams?
Per week, how many hours would you say its necessary to revise outside of office hours?
And also, generally how did you find your experience?

Any advice you could give me is appreciated!

Reply 3

JoshBig4Audit

OP

15

Original post by ajj2000

Well done! When does your TC finish? What are your plans now?

My training contract finishes in a few days, I’m not too sure actually yet. I couldn’t see past passing the exams so I’m just evaluating my options (stay in audit or move)

Reply 4

JoshBig4Audit

OP

15

Original post by user6437648

Hi, I'm starting the same course at Deliotte in a couple weeks and I had a couple questions:

Does anyone get kicked out of the programme if they don't pass any exams for the ACA?
Maths wise, is there a lot of difficult maths in the exams?
Per week, how many hours would you say its necessary to revise outside of office hours?
And also, generally how did you find your experience?

Any advice you could give me is appreciated!

Welcome to the firm! Are you starting in audit?

-there’s a structure in place for fails and hard fails. Brightstarts get 3 attempts and grads get 2
-some of the exams are “mathsy”, but not complex mathematics, all formula driven so once you learn those you’ll be fine
-it depends how close you are to exams, a month out maybe a couple hours a day for 5 days a week? Then closer to the exam you’ll be in college so you’ll be revising for 8ish hours a day
-Rewarding but challenging. If I knew what I do now, I’d still do what I’ve done, as sometimes it gets really rough but there really is no better base for you than Big 4 ACA qualified (speaking in terms of the finance world)

Reply 5

user6437648

1

Original post by JoshBig4Audit

Welcome to the firm! Are you starting in audit?

-there’s a structure in place for fails and hard fails. Brightstarts get 3 attempts and grads get 2
-some of the exams are “mathsy”, but not complex mathematics, all formula driven so once you learn those you’ll be fine
-it depends how close you are to exams, a month out maybe a couple hours a day for 5 days a week? Then closer to the exam you’ll be in college so you’ll be revising for 8ish hours a day
-Rewarding but challenging. If I knew what I do now, I’d still do what I’ve done, as sometimes it gets really rough but there really is no better base for you than Big 4 ACA qualified (speaking in terms of the finance world)

Thanks, that was really helpful! Yes, I am starting in audit.

Reply 6

laila2251

3

How many people get through the assessment centre

Reply 7

shylahleachxo

5

Original post by Hellokitty123abc

I start my Audit School Leaver Apprenticeship at Grant Thornton this September! I had some questions:
- do you regret the ACA?
- how hard were the exams?
- is the maths basic gcse level?
- when is the best time to study for the exams?
- do you have any resources to help for the exams?
- how difficult was the ACA on a scale from 1-10?
- what are you working as now?

I hope to do an MBA and go into consulting or explore my options further.

I’m not really worried about studying for the exam alongside full time work, I chose Grant Thornton for this very reason as opposed to the Big 4 as the work life balance is wayyy better.

Hey, ive recently applied to GT's School leaver apprenticeship. Do you have any way i can contact you to ask some questions? xx

Reply 8

Hellokitty123abc

14

Original post by shylahleachxo

Hey, ive recently applied to GT's School leaver apprenticeship. Do you have any way i can contact you to ask some questions? xx

You can get pm me on here

Reply 9

asharma16

1

Original post by JoshBig4Audit

Hi all,
Thought I’d come on here as I finally passed the final ACA exam on Friday which concludes my School Leaver Apprenticeship with Deloitte, and when I started I really could’ve done with having someone to ask questions to. Little bit about me:
-Joined in 2017, the program is initially meant to be 4 years long but it took me 5
-I’m in Audit in a regional office, but also work in London
-Yes, I have failed a couple of exams
Feel free to ask any questions :smile:

Hi currently near end of june 2024, im finishing year 12 of a-level, am i too soon to be able to see the 'job listing' for this program on deloitte's website, as infact im trying all big 4 firms and there are limited programs listed on them even though ive heard that there should be more, should i wait like until november in year 13?

and just to confirm, the qualification you walk away with was just the ACA? i understand its at the level of a masters but would not having a undergrad before that matter?

Reply 10

Studenttt123456

1

Original post by JoshBig4Audit

Hi all,
Thought I’d come on here as I finally passed the final ACA exam on Friday which concludes my School Leaver Apprenticeship with Deloitte, and when I started I really could’ve done with having someone to ask questions to. Little bit about me:
-Joined in 2017, the program is initially meant to be 4 years long but it took me 5
-I’m in Audit in a regional office, but also work in London
-Yes, I have failed a couple of exams
Feel free to ask any questions :smile:

I am planning to do the ICAEWs ACA exams with a degree apprenticeship, I am coming out of A levels and would say I amaverage grade student. Would it be doable for me to take them. Any thoughts, and have also been told by the apprenticeship to complete all of the exams within two years, which can be overwhelming alongside the long hours and travelling.Bear in mind I am only 18 lol,Any thoughts it would be really helpful.

Reply 11

pepperstalk

9

1) How much prior knowledge of the job did you have before starting? Did they train you gradually or did you ever feel thrown into the deep end?
2) When you say 3 is the retake number , is that for each individual exam or across the whole scheme?
3) How was it adjusting to a 9-5 life?
4) Did it ever feel lonely - did you have a large cohort to speak with?
5) Could you ask to move from audit midway?
6) How far would you be expected to travel to meet clients?

Just finished the ACA on the Deloitte Brightstart Apprenticeship Scheme, AMA :)

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