A day in the life of an Audit Assistant at Carpenter Box

Neil has been with Carpenter Box since January 2022 and works in the Crawley office as part of the Audit and Assurance Team. He has been studying in his own time for his ACCA qualification and has recently sat and passed his last exam in September 2024.

Start of the day

I wake up at 7 am for my working day. In-the-office work is non-client facing, so I change into my polo and jeans and get ready. When out on client visits, I tend to wear more formal clothes. Before work, I always opt for my morning scrambled eggs on toast to keep me fuelled for the day. This is followed by a short 10-minute walk to the office, as I live locally. I aim to arrive at the office by 8:30 am, but Carpenter Box has a flexible working policy, so this can vary between 8:00 am and 9:00 am as well.

Morning in the office

Once I arrive at my desk, which I book using the Carpenter Box hot desk system, I catch up with my colleagues whilst setting up. Next, I read through my emails and Microsoft Teams messages to make sure I am up to date and aware of all communications around me. I then check what work has been booked for me, and typically, if there are colleagues working on the same client, we work together to set out a plan for the day and ensure that our assignments are completed effectively.

The work within the Audit and Assurance Team varies a lot, including account preparation, audit planning, fieldwork, completion, and even some ad-hoc tasks related to the department. This provides great exposure to the entire department.

Lunch

Normally, I have lunch at 1 pm. My colleagues from Audit and Assurance and I often walk to Sainsbury’s for food. Sometimes, we are also joined by colleagues from the Tax Services and Business Services groups. Every now and then, we treat ourselves and eat at one of the nearby restaurants.

Afternoon in the office

Once I’m back in the office, I continue my assignments or attend any meetings I may have. I provide my manager or senior with an update on my assignments, allowing them to proceed with the clients accordingly. My day ends at 5 pm with a short walk back home.

Study

In preparation for my exams, I study in my free time and on weekends when I’m not busy. My mentor, who was previously on the same study path, is always available to answer any questions I may have.

Outside of work

At the weekend, I play 7-a-side football with my friends, and often, I am joined by other colleagues from the Crawley office. I also enjoy checking on my fantasy football team at the weekend to see if they are still top of the league!

Want to know more?

To find out more about a trainee position at Carpenter Box you can check out our website, or alternatively, you can contact us on 01903 234094.