Mazars Application Process

Application and Interview Process

The firm has a five step application process:

• Online application
• Review
• Personal interview
• Selection interview
• Decision

Online Application

Online application requires you to decide which training scheme you wish to apply for and complete an online application form.

Review

Once Mazars have reviewed your application you will be asked to complete online numerical reasoning & verbal reasoning tests. The tests are provided by PSL/Kenexa.

Most people will need to practise the numerical reasoning test to pass it. Pages 7-23 of this book may prove extremely useful in preparing for any of the numerical tests.

Interview

If your application is successful, the next stage is a one-to-one interview. This will be a one-hour interview with a manager or member of the graduate recruitment team.

At the beginning of your first interview you will be given an analytical exercise to read and discuss. The remainder of the interview will consist of questions based around the key skills that Mazars feel are important in the role that you have applied for.

Selection Interview

This consists of:

• Meeting the team
• Partner interview
• Written exercises
• A group exercise where you are given a scenario to discuss.
• An in-tray exercise.

If feedback from your interview is good, you will be invited to come and meet the team at your chosen office. You will be interviewed by a partner and asked to do some team and written exercises.

Group Exercise

The group exercise is relatively straightforward. You will be presented with a scenario that you have to make a group decision on. You will have about 15 minutes to read and consider it and then 30 minutes to discuss and reach a decision. It is more important that everyone participates rather than what the final decision is. The most important thing is to make sure that you express your views but also listen to what everyone else is saying. You need to be able to persuade others to your point of view also notice when others have good points of view.

In-tray exercise

Some other companies will do this electronically but with Mazars it is paper based.

There were 3 exercises to do:

• Basic emails (prioritise them)
• Making programs
• Responding to a memo

The task itself is not challenging but there is extreme time pressure. It is important that you spend as much time writing as possible, and focus on getting things down within the time limit.

Lunch

Usually the assessment process takes place in the morning and is followed by a buffet lunch. This is informal and allows an opportunity to meet the partners and managers, and ask questions about Mazars.

Decision

You will be informed within two weeks if your interviews have been successful.

Mazars Graduate Schemes

Mazars Graduate Schemes

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Graduate jobs at Mazars start in September each year. There are four main graduate schemes available at Mazars:

• Chartered Accountancy
• Actuarial Services
• Financial Planning
• Tax

Chartered Accountancy training scheme

Mazars recruit about 100 people each year to train to become chartered accountants. The firm support you through your exams, which usually takes three years. You’ll work primarily in audit, but will be exposed to other areas such as tax, assurance and advisory services.

Actuarial services training scheme

The firm recruit two people each year to join their actuarial business. The scheme includes support and study leave to help you qualify as a fellow of the Institute or Faculty of Actuaries. You will be involved in a broad range of assignments including life, general and health insurance, and consulting in pensions and investments.

Mazars Financial Planning training scheme

Mazars take on five people to join our financial planning business. You'll study for your Financial Planning Certificate (two years) and then go on to gain full financial adviser status in five years with the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate (AFPC). To begin with you’ll work as a ‘financial planning assistant’ supporting one of the firm's financial advisers with their portfolio of private and corporate clients.

Tax training scheme

On this scheme you’ll train to become a member of the Chartered Tax Association and will be fully supported through your exams. You’ll also gain experience supporting corporate and personal tax clients.

Application requirements

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Graduate applicants are expected to have:

• An obtained or expected 2:1 or first class degree
• 280 UCAS points from any one year (not including General Studies)
• Grade B or above in GCSE Maths and English Language

If you have (or are expecting) a 2:2 in your degree, you can still apply. However, you’ll need to show evidence of particularly strong achievements in a different area. If there were extenuating circumstances that affected your result, make sure you tell the firm so that they can take these into account.

There is one exception. Because of the mathematical nature of Actuarial Services, you’ll need to have:

• An obtained or expected 2:1 or first class degree in a mathematical discipline (Maths, Statistics, Economics or a degree with a substantial mathematical content)
• 320 UCAS points with grade A in a mathematical discipline

Graduate Training

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Your training starts with a one-week residential course where you will be introduced to Mazars. You will meet senior partners and talk about what you want from the training scheme. You will find out about auditing techniques, client handling, problem solving and how to deal with fraud and money laundering.

Secondments

[Edit] Graduate trainees are able to spend time working in offices all round the world, including France, Spain, US and Australia. Secondments are popular. You will need to perform well once you start work at the firm and have adequate language skills to be able to spend time on secondment.