Anushka - EY
Economics student Anushka completed a work placement with EY in 2024–25. She worked within the Tax Service Line as an Assistant Tax Advisor.
Q&A
Tell us about your placement experience.
I completed a 12-month placement at EY within the Tax Service Line, specifically in the Global Compliance and Reporting division.
My role as an Assistant Tax Advisor involved a wide variety of responsibilities, including preparing tax computations using EY’s in-house software, supporting audit processes, and attending client meetings where I was responsible for taking minutes and distributing them to the wider team.
I also led internal training sessions, which allowed me to contribute directly to the professional development of colleagues.
What was your favourite thing about your placement?
Although the placement came with the challenge of working to multiple tight deadlines, what stood out most to me was the collaborative and supportive culture at EY. The opportunity to sit alongside senior colleagues and observe their thought processes and client interactions provided me with invaluable, real-time learning that I would not have gained elsewhere.
Additionally, being given the responsibility to lead meetings with Directors, participate in calls with audit teams, and even represent the team in client meetings was one of the most rewarding aspects of my placement. These experiences significantly developed my communication skills, while also giving me the confidence to engage directly with seniors which is something I will carry forward in my career.
What were the key skills you developed on placement?
I developed a strong blend of technical and interpersonal skills. On the technical side, daily use of Excel allowed me to become highly confident in the software, while I also gained hands-on experience with EY’s AI tools and other specialised systems to prepare tax computations and manage client queries.
At the same time, I honed key professional skills such as managing multiple clients simultaneously, prioritising tasks, and adapting quickly to shifting deadlines. I also became much more confident in my communication with senior colleagues, whether that was providing progress updates, flagging challenges early, or coordinating across different teams. These experiences strengthened both my organisational and problem-solving abilities, making me more effective in a fast-paced professional environment.
Have your future plans changed as a result of doing a placement?
My placement year at EY gave me a much deeper understanding of the financial services sector and the career paths available within it. The exposure to real client work, along with the professional relationships I built, has confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in this field. More importantly, it has left me feeling both confident and well-prepared to take the next steps in my career journey. Having established a strong professional network during my placement, I also feel reassured that I have a valuable support system I can turn to for guidance and opportunities in the future.