Joining tech risk in Manchester as well! Similar question around the cfab exams, when will we start studying the modules and when what does the exam schedule look like? Thanks :)

28 June, 2023 15:37

Hey both - I'm one of Tech Risk Consultants in Manchester, nice to meet you! Chloe - are you Tech Consulting or Tech Risk Consulting (as my answer will differ a bit)

28 June, 2023 15:40

Hi Ellie thank you for replying! As far as i know im still under tech consulting? i havent had the chance to pick the specific areas under Technology yet :)

28 June, 2023 15:43

In terms of the CFAB exams - you go straight into college in your first few weeks to start studying for the first two (accounting and assurance). The schedule is roughly 3-5 days of college (where you are off work) for each exam module, you then have a week where you're in work and revising in the evenings/weekends and then usually you sit the exam the following week. Rough timelines are accounting/assurance exams in October, Tax in Nov, Management Information in January and Law and Business, Technology & Finance in March :)

28 June, 2023 15:43

Hey Chloe - so tech consulting is different to my job in tech risk but I can talk about my day to day as well as exams/living in Manchester! I think your day to day at first will be pretty similar, there's a lot of client interaction, whether that's calls, emails, client site visits. Your first year will be lots of learning (both training, online learning modules and learning on the job)

28 June, 2023 15:44

In terms of living in Manchester - that's completely up to you! EY has a flexible working policy which means you can work from home or in the office depending on what suits you and your team. Bare in mind your team may have anchor days that they want everyone in the office (so make sure you live close enough to be able to come in) and there may also be client site visits in around Manchester/North West

28 June, 2023 15:46

I lived just outside of Manchester (in Stockport) in my first year and commuted in on the train every day, lots of the grads in my team this year also live outside of Manchester. I then chose to move into the city centre in my second year as lots of my friends from work lived here too and I love it - super fun city to live in :)

28 June, 2023 15:47

Thanks Ellie!

28 June, 2023 15:49

In terms of learning, would it be part of our daily 9-5 or after work? I'm currently staying in sheffield and I couldnt decide whether i should move to manchester or to stay in sheffield as it is quite expensive to stay within the city centre haha!

28 June, 2023 15:51

Do we get the chance to choose the type of projects we can handle or will someone assign it to us?

28 June, 2023 15:52

Are there any activities, volunteering or sports that we can join within EY as well?

28 June, 2023 15:53

My understanding is we are assigned projects to begin with. Then as we gain experience we’ll have the opportunity to network with seniors and get involved with projects that interest us! So I suppose being proactive about that could really prove useful later on!

28 June, 2023 15:56

Another quick one- what does hybrid working look like at EY and tech risk specifically? I prefer to come in most days but could do with occasionally wfm as well! Thanks :)

28 June, 2023 16:01

In terms of learning - for your CFAB exams EY give you study leave for college, you then tend to have a week or two where you are back in work 9-5 and would be revising in the evenings/weekends. Your team will all know that you're doing exams and will be encouraging you to log off on time to give you as much time as possible to revise!

28 June, 2023 16:02

My team has a choice whether to do the full ACA, if we do it we get more extended study leave over the summer to revise for these exams and you're out of work for weeks at a time to revise for these ones

28 June, 2023 16:03

Chloe - on moving to Manchester it really is personal preference! I know people who lived a similar distance away and you can manage commuting in. It depends on how much you would want to be in the Manchester office (I would recommend because I love the office social life)

28 June, 2023 16:04

Your team may have sports teams and there are plenty of networks within EY for meeting people

28 June, 2023 16:05

Utkarsh - on flexible working it really is flexible but dependent on team. In TR in Manchester it's encouraged we go in the office 2 days a week. I tend to go in the office 2-3 days a week, go to client site once a week and work from home 1-2 days a week. Our team in Manchester is really sociable so we definitely tend to come in more than most people.

28 June, 2023 16:07

Thank you for answering, it is really helpful!

28 June, 2023 16:09

Do you go to client's site for work often? does it depends on the project?

28 June, 2023 16:10

That’s awesome thanks! Just a follow up on the qualifications- I know it’s really up to each person’s preference but generally would you advise to extend our qualifications and study for the full ACA qualification? In your experience does it help within our role in tech risk?

28 June, 2023 16:12

It depends on the project. For one of my clients I go once a week. for another I go a couple of times a year and others I have never been on site

28 June, 2023 16:12

It's about 50/50 in the team who continues and does the full ACA and who doesn't. It can be helpful but it's not a requirement for the role. You will hear lots about it when you join and you have loads of time before you need to make that decision (it's not until after your final CFAB exams in around April you need to decide)

28 June, 2023 16:13

Sorry to ask but is CFAB the same as chartered management consulting accredition?

28 June, 2023 16:15

No Chloe, the CFAB is the first 6 exams towards the chartered accountancy qualification (ACA)

28 June, 2023 16:17

Thanks a lot! Another follow up questions regarding client's cite, in terms of travel expenses to client's office, do we have to cover it on our own?

28 June, 2023 16:19

Thanks for your help and advice Ellie! Looking forward to meeting you and the TR team in September!

28 June, 2023 16:22

Nope Chloe - all travel expenses for business purposes will be covered by EY

28 June, 2023 16:25

No problem Utkarsh! Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn if you have further Qs about the team :)

28 June, 2023 16:25

Thank you for clarifying Ellie, the information you've provided has been helpful! Looking forward to see both of you and Utkarsh in the manchester office this september! :)

28 June, 2023 16:27

See you both there and enjoy your summer!

28 June, 2023 16:27