Andrew Dunne

Degree subject Accounting & Finance (2006)
Job title Tax Trainee
Employer Ernst & Young

During my penultimate year in college I applied to do an internship with Ernst & Young. Although I was on the verge of completing an accounting degree, I was still quite unsure as to what career I wanted to pursue. My internship gave me a great insight into audit and tax as well as the opportunity to chat to other trainees about their experiences within the firm. Although I had no previous exposure to any tax-related matters, when I had completed the internship programme I knew tax was the career for me. The professional atmosphere appealed to me, along with the fact that you're working with corporate clients that you read about every day in the newspaper.

I began work in the September after graduating, joining the Industrial, Commercial & Technology Tax Group. For the first two months I was helping other people and getting a feel for the work and after that I started being given my own clients. It was a bit daunting but there is an open-door policy here which means there is plenty of support available when you need it.

Working life means a lot more responsibility than being a student but the biggest difference is the amount of time I spend working and studying: on top of the working week I attend regular evening (and occasional Saturday) lectures. The firm is sponsoring me me to undertake the AITI examinations which is a three-year part-time professional taxation qualification offered by the Irish Taxation Institute.

Advice for graduates

When applying for jobs, try to get a feel for the companies you might work for. Once you start work, remember that things becomes much easier when you have got the first two weeks over and got to know people.