What our students say
“The placement process for any university student is one of the most stressful periods however from my very first interaction meeting HR at HH to working with the accounts team in my first few weeks there has been nothing but support & friendliness to ease us in and make that process worthwhile. Any question, no matter how stupid I think it is, will be answered without a seconds thought, and I’m really excited for the next couple of months to see how I can expand my knowledge & build new connections!” Akshay Patel, Work Placement student 2023
“Following my A levels, I applied to many accountancy firms in my local area for an apprenticeship scheme. Hillier Hopkins stood out to me for all the right reasons, from the very beginning of the application process. The selection process was very efficient compared to the other firms I had applied to and I felt reassured at each stage due to the guidance from the friendly recruitment team. Both online and phone interviews had a personal feel about them , which made them more engaging and less robotic. I am very confident I made the best start to my professional career with Hillier Hopkins!” Ume Siddique, CFAB Student
“Initially, everything felt very fast paced; I was straight out on audits and not entirely sure I knew what I was doing. However, with the guidance and support of Audit Seniors and through the feedback process, I was able to develop my practical skills very quickly. When it comes to studying, I have found that the progression rate of my responsibilities at work and the areas that I am studying complement each other nicely. An audit file can seem quite daunting at first, but you will be amazed how quickly you will find this feeling dissipates. Through practical experience, working on different companies in contrasting industries, you swiftly learn how to problem solve and develop working relations with different characters. To aid my development, I was offered the chance to have secondment experiences in both Hillier Hopkins’ Accounts and Tax departments and through these opportunities I discovered that my skillset was better suited to tax; which Hillier Hopkins was happy to support my transition into. The environment at Hillier Hopkins has very much a family feel. Everyone, including senior management, is available and supportive; there is never any awkwardness when it comes to your learning and development.” Emily Fitzmaurice, CTA/ACA Associate
“When I started with Hillier Hopkins , I was initially a bit daunted as my degree wasn’t related to Accounting unlike some of my peer group, but we were all treated on the same playing field when we joined without assumptions about our prior knowledge, making me feel more comfortable. It was good to know that our peer group would study together at times in and out of work and help each other with our individual strengths which was useful at college. The first day of study, like the first day of anything, was overwhelming as everything is new, but every exam you pass makes you feel more confident about yourself and your ability. Initially work wise I felt like a fish out of water too, but you are taught as a group and helped as an individual. There is always someone to ask for help and most of the Seniors have been in your position not so long ago so really helps to relate. Communication with Managers is surprisingly comfortable as I wasn’t expecting them to take the time to go through my queries step by step and explain fully. You can even have a chat with a Principle in the kitchen just making your coffee without the barriers of position in the way. Everyone is accessible and it feels like a safe space. I especially like the opportunities to get to know other departments better at networking events and I am looking forward to gaining the skills and becoming a senior to help other like I was helped.” Natasha Burgess, Graduate ACA Student
