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Why a Career in Audit & Assurance?

Audit & Assurance is about much more than the numbers. We provide independent challenge and relevant insights so our clients and their stakeholders can make the best decisions about their business.

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What is Audit & Assurance?

Whether it’s conducting statutory audits, due diligence reviews or providing accounting advice on technical issues including corporate governance, we provide our clients with key diagnostics and processes to inspire their confidence and trust. Our relentless drive for quality and talent is what enables our engagements to support thousands of transactions in the capital markets every year.

Working in Audit & Assurance is a gateway to a Chartered Accountants Ireland qualification, which is a qualification that is globally recognised and embedded in Irish business. In the Assurance team there are other opportunities to get additional qualifications, such as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualifications. We also offer a choice of courses on sustainability in our Assurance team.

My time in Deloitte so far as been a healthy and enjoyable mix of challenge, learning and adaptation which I believe is essential for my qualification as an accountant as well as my personal and professional growth.

Find out more:

Your day-to-day activities in Audit & Assurance will see you work with highly innovative audit and assurance teams and senior stakeholders in our clients. You will analyse client data using the best analytical tools and techniques, review client operations and controls, understand strategic and financial issues impacting on the company, identify insights and areas for improvement and ensure that users of financial statements can have trust and assurance that they are true and fair. You will gain exposure to a variety of engagements and clients and will be encouraged to take leadership roles early in your career. 

In 2022, we will also have a small number of opportunities available for our Financial Services Quants and Modelling Group and our new Assurance graduate programme. In the Quants and Modelling Group graduate programme, you'll focus on independent valuation of a range of different types of financial instruments, further developing your quantitative skills and learning new solutions and systems quickly. In the Assurance graduate programme, you will focus on complex accounting assurance, accounting operations assurance, disruptive events assurance and business assurance. 

Our team consists of the best assurance and advisory talent in Ireland. The future of audit is constantly evolving and innovation is at the forefront of our Audit & Assurance business. We need creative problem solvers who enjoy a fast-paced team environment, are naturally inquisitive and enjoy using technology to solve problems that make a lasting impact. We strive to develop the careers of our staff and have created an environment in which you can succeed.

The importance of technology to Deloitte audits

In today’s fast-moving and ever-more-technology-focused world, there’s a lot more to Audit than just reviewing yearly accounts. Our evolving innovative technologies deliver valuable insights to clients about their business year round.
We continue to lead the profession in technology and innovation. Data analytics, visualization techniques, and artificial intelligence are dramatically changing the way Deloitte is able to approach Audits. We were the winner of the International Accounting Bulletin’s prestigious 'Audit Innovation of the Year' award for our dedication to innovation and the development of leading-edge tools to transform audit service delivery, three times to date.

More recently, we have been voted the Most popular graduate recruiter in Accountancy/Professional Services in the GradIreland Graduate Recruitment Awards for the 4th consecutive year. We were voted Best Graduate Recruitment Programme by the Irish Accountancy Association in 2013, and Great Place to Work® and Fortune recognised Deloitte as one of the World’s Best Workplaces™ for 2023 – ranked 6th on this year’s list. 

Our commitment to the professional development of our people is absolute. Focused on technical, client relationship and technology skills, and reinforced by on-the-job learning, our ‘lifelong’ tailored development approach will ensure you continue to progress in your career and become the leader you know you can be.

As an Audit & Assurance associate you have an opportunity to get to really understand Irish and Global businesses and industries including financial services, consumer business, technology, media and telecommunications. The skills and experience you gain as an associate at Deloitte will guide the rest of your career, wherever it takes you.

On joining Deloitte as an Audit & Assurance associate you will:

  • Participate in a structured induction programme to introduce you to the Deloitte culture, values and business principles including the Audit & Assurance business.
  • Participate in the “The Audit & Assurance Experience” where you will embark on your first audit engagement. This programme is a “real life” simulation of an audit.
  • Receive continuous coaching and guidance from experienced colleagues during this time. Attend a “Professional Education and Personal Development week”. The programme includes study skills & examination technique sessions, briefings, and practice workshops.

As you progress through your training contract you will be responsible for coaching more junior team members and delegating work assigned by the audit manager.

As well as gaining a globally recognised professional qualification, you’ll discover all kinds of new business and technical skills, as well as everything you need to do your job and accelerate your career.

Read more on our learning approach, exam success and support.

The Audit department at Deloitte is split into two specialist groups:

  • Financial Services: Banking; Investment Funds; Securitisation; Insurance; Leasing.
  • Consumer & Technology Business: Manufacturing, Distribution, Pharmaceuticals, Retail, Media, Technology; Property.

The Assurance team covers both specialist groups above, specialising in a number of different areas:

  • Complex Accounting Assurance
  • Accounting Operations Assurance
  • Disruptive Events Assurance
  • Business Assurance
  • Providing assurance to a third party (e.g. customer, investor, regulator, etc.) on financial or non-financial data, ecosystems and related controls. 
  • The team also has a special focus on blockchain, digital assets and sustainability reporting and assurance.

Associates within the Audit & Assurance practice complete the Chartered Accountants Ireland qualification (ACA). The ACA qualification comprises three sets of professional examinations: CAP1, CAP2, and the Final Admittance Exam (FAE).

Deloitte is committed to supporting our associates through this course of study by providing on-the-job training to develop the competencies required of a Chartered Accountant and through our Professional Education support programme. This programme provides generous study leave, tutorials, mock examinations and additional internal support mechanisms to all associates pursuing the ACA qualification.

In the course of your training contract with Deloitte you can expect to gain experience in some or all of the following areas:

  • Auditing
  • Financial accounting & reporting
  • Business finance
  • Taxation & tax planning
  • Internal control
  • Corporate governance
  • Information systems & management
  • Financial services
  • Consulting
  • Insolvency
  • Financial advisory
  • Business Development 

 

There are many benefits of completing an ACA training contract with Deloitte, which include:

  • All education and exam fees paid
  • Study and exam leave
  • Exposure to quality, professional accountancy experience
  • Mentored by senior Chartered Accountants
  • Exposure to the global Deloitte network
  • Salary that increases in line with exam progression
  • Strong foundation in skills such as audit, tax, or financial services for careers in either practice or business

Entry routes:

We know that people learn in different ways, thus, we offer two routes towards the ACA qualification. Deloitte will sponsor a recognised Masters in Accounting or a Post-Graduate Diploma in Accounting. Alternatively, we offer a direct entry route, which provides associates with a mix of work and study.

Applications for Audit are encouraged from all academic disciplines, including accounting, business, law, science, technology, engineering, maths, amongst others. Other requirements include:

  • Achieved or are currently on target for a 2.1 honours degree or higher
  • A high level of self-motivation and commitment
  • The ability to analyse and work through complex problems
  • Flexibility, resilience and intellectual curiosity
  • A proactive approach to work
  • Ability to collaborate and work well within a team environment
  • The ability to learn quickly
  • Demonstrated leadership, creative problem solving and strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to prioritise tasks, work on multiple assignments, and manage change
  • Some relevant work experience (e.g. internships, summer positions, school jobs)

 

For the Financial Services Quants and Modelling Group, additional requirements apply:

  • Minimum 2.1 degree qualification in one of Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, Actuarial or Quantitative Finance
  • Advanced analytical skills with demonstrable knowledge of quantitative finance models and pricing techniques
  • Proficient in Excel, VBA, SQL, R, Python (or a quick learner)
  • Problem solving ability allied with high attention to detail
  • Demonstrably keen interest in the valuation of derivatives
  • Desirable but not necessary:
    • Postgraduate or First Class Hons degree qualification in a quantitative subject
    • Previous experience in quantitative finance and derivatives

For the Business Assurance Graduate Programme, additional requirements apply:

  • Minimum 2.1 degree qualification in Computer Science, Engineering, Actuarial or Quantitative Finance or Sustainability
  • A keen interest in blockchain or sustainability
  • Understanding of blockchain technology
  • Understanding of sustainability reporting frameworks e.g. GRI, TCFD, CDP, CSRD, NFRD, Taxonomy, SFDR
  • Desirable but not necessary:
    • Postgraduate or First Class Hons degree qualification in a sustainability subject
       

Your Reward at Deloitte encompasses a competitive salary and benefits, exam awards, paid study leave and recognition of discretionary effort. Here, recognition doesn’t just come from leaders. It’s part of a culture where we take pride in our colleagues’ accomplishments as much as we do our own.

Benefits in our Graduate Programme include, among others:

Speak to your recruiter to find out the full range of benefits for your particular role.

Find out more about Your Reward at Deloitte

At Deloitte, we offer competitive reward packages and a variety of benefits. The firm also offers a number of wellbeing programmes to reflect the balance of priorities in our people’s lives.

Upon joining Deloitte's graduate programme, you can expect: 

  • 21 days annual leave rising with service plus 1 additional Deloitte Day (22 days total)
  • Paid time off in lieu (TOIL)
  • Compressed working week: 2pm finish on Fridays during June, July and August
  • Discounted health insurance and online GP service
  • Life assurance and pension plan
  • Paid professional subscription
  • Graduation leave
  • Advanced learning and development programmes
  • Comprehensive professional education and study leave programme
  • Employee assistance programme
  • Tax saver travel pass and Bike to Work scheme
  • Employee recognition awards
  • Corporate Responsibility volunteering opportunities
  • Deloitte Unplugged programme
  • Corporate deals and discounts

Read more about our reward and benefits.

Meet our people

Bertrand Singe, Audit Associate

Meena Khatri,  Audit Associate

Ryan Basquel, Audit Manager. Checkout Ryan's Instagram Takeover here.

Join the conversation on social media #yourDeloitte

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