What attracted you to Deloitte?

When I made the decision to do an apprenticeship, I knew I wanted to be in a role where I could support clients and work collaboratively with other people. The appeal of Deloitte was that I could do this while working for one of the top global consulting firms. It seemed like an amazing place to start my career.

Has anything surprised you about working here?

I didn’t realise how inclusive the environment would be when I started. The people were even more willing to network and talk about how I was finding life at the firm than I had previously imagined. The strong togetherness of teams within Deloitte was very apparent when I started my journey with the firm.

What attracted you to Deloitte?

I wanted to be part of a graduate scheme where I could continue my learning and development alongside working, which is something that was on offer at Deloitte. It’s also an influential place and they take care of the people who work here. In terms of the role I applied for, I was impressed by the breadth of work that the Ventures team covers and the drive towards experimentation.

How do you explain your job to friends and family?

I think the easiest way to explain what we do at Ventures is to say that we are constantly innovating to ensure that Deloitte stays ahead of the curve as a firm. We want our clients to get the best service possible, and the Ventures team is responsible for experimenting with the newest market trends to find out what works and what doesn’t, before we introduce it more widely. We are constantly on the lookout for new start-ups we can work with and new experiments we can try out.

What attracted you to Deloitte?

Deloitte appreciates diversity and fosters inclusion which means you can be yourself whilst being respected for the contribution you make. They also welcome neurodiverse candidates, which shows they recognise the unique skills that neurodiverse people can bring. Before joining, I enjoyed learning about the Women in Cyber and Gender Diversity initiative that Deloitte had launched. There was also a very strong emphasis on the support and training that Deloitte was willing to invest in their employees to help them build their careers, which really attracted me to the firm.

What does your role involve?

My role is to help protect the corporate network and data from outside intruders, a bit like a burglar alarm sensor in a house. In the cyber world, there are many alerts put in place to inform us if we have a threat actor attempting to access the Deloitte network. My job is to understand and check these alerts when they come in, to determine whether we are under attack. Another area of my role is threat intelligence –a new process where we actively research the new tactics that people are using to launch cyber attacks. Having access to this information means we can ensure that Deloitte’s defense, detection and prevention methods are up to date and are able to prevent or minimise the impact of such an attack. I enjoy the fact that every day is different and you don’t always know how it will take shape.

How does Deloitte foster an inclusive environment?

As a neurodivergent individual sometimes it can be hard to be yourself and there’s a lot of stigma around it. At Deloitte I’ve been welcomed from the start and supported in my day to day working life. I am also a member of the Neurodiverse Community and when I first joined the firm, I was assigned a Neurodiverse Manager who got in touch with me to ensure I settled in well. Meanwhile the leaders in my team have told me I can approach them for additional support whenever I need it.

Can you tell us a bit about what you do in Forensic?

To put it simply, my job is to help organisations limit their exposure to financial crime. Working on preventing financial crime gives me a real sense of purpose because everything we do is another step towards making it harder for criminals to benefit from their illicit activities and a nudge towards making the world a more pleasant place. Fostered by Deloitte’s collaborative environment; we all have our part to play.

And what do you love about it?

I love that I’ve been encouraged to take on responsibilities that enable me to interact with the client. I think that’s so brilliant at such an early stage in my career. It’s allowed me to gain confidence, which puts me in good stead going forward.

What’s been a challenge and how have you been supported through that?

I found coming into the role with limited technical knowledge quite a challenge initially because it made me doubt myself on occasion. But the team have been amazing, so supportive. I have had introduction sessions and have been pointed towards the relevant materials that allow me to develop my knowledge and understanding. I’ve learnt a huge amount since I’ve been here.

You joined through the BrightStart Programme. How did you find the application process? Any tips?

I found it pretty smooth. It mainly focused on my skills to work independently as well as part of a team. I did a group presentation, an exercise focused around the sort of tasks I would have to do if I got the job, and a couple of interviews. I’d always advise anyone preparing for the application process to do some research into the role you’re applying for and also to ask questions in your interview.

Is there anything you’ve been particularly surprised by since joining?

I’ve been surprised by how much of a team spirit there is within my office and service line. I thought that, given the size of the firm, it would be difficult to find that. But the reality is that I’ve become part of a great and supportive team who are genuinely invested in my development.

Tell us about your job and the best things about it

Our Products & Solutions team sits within Deloitte’s Forensic Technology department. We use innovative technology to solve complex issues for our clients, specifically in the financial crime and regulatory fields. Which includes developing new software products.

The best thing about my job is having access to cutting-edge technology, such as cloud services, and getting involved in the full software lifecycle, as well as being in an environment where I can continue to develop my skills. That’s something that really motivates me. Every day I learn something new and increase my technical skills.

Isn’t it all just work, work, work?

The social side of Deloitte is great, being able to go on socials after work with my team, but also wider teams in the company, is a great way to meet new people, get involved and increase my network – but also have fun!

What’s the best thing about your office?

Working in St Albans is great because, even though it’s a regional office, it’s still very much connected with the London campus. Our office also works with local charities, such as EarthWorks. This is great because it enables us to make an impact on wider society.