Audit Commission assessment centre

Anyone???????????????

No specific info on this from me - although I expect you will have a group exercise, aptitude tests and a written exercise - see also assessment centre.

If you call HR and ask them to describe the make up of the assessment centre and then come back to me, I can help you a bit more.

Did you have an interview before the assessment centre? A telephone interview? Did you have online aptitude tests, etc?!

Good luck!

lila, and anyone else interested. Below I go through my experience of the whole process from applying to the assessment centre.

I went through the Audit Commission process, unsuccessfully, during the summer, so my knowledge of it may help but it might have changed.
After submitting my application, I was invited to take online numerical and verbal reasoning tests, nothing out of the ordinary with those (possibly SHL?? but done so many I can't remember).

A couple of days later I was invited to attend a first-round interview in their Bristol office, this was mostly competency based, so the usual questions around "give an example of...", but also why the Audit Commission, what makes Audit Commission different from audit in a practice (i.e. Big4), and also a question around any current issues impacting the public-sector organisations you might be auditing and how they might impact on the audits. So read up a bit on what they do, some examples of the organisations they audit, current public-sector issues, maybe read one of their audit reports to understand the sort of work they actually do.

Four days later I was invited to a final stage assessment centre at a hotel near Heathrow. This was a busy but not too long a day, finishing around 3:30. The day consisted of a second interview, group exercise, written exercise and a role play exercise.
The interview was again mostly competency-based, I don't remember any surprises.
The group exercise was based around a group of four needing to decide on a course of action and compose a press release, this was based on a scenario where the group were part of a local council, and the replacement of their office building, each member of the group got a different piece of information to share.
For the written exercise you had a case study to read through, and you had to write a report detailing what you see as the main issues and how they could be resolved, there was also a summary set of accounts (P+L and B/S) which had errors to be identified in (missing numbers, headings etc.) but I don't think it was necessary to have studied any accounting, fairly common sense. Time was an issue, as always with these exercises, but as long as you don’t get carried away and spend too long on reading the case study you should be ok.
Finally, I had a role-play exercise, which was based around the same organisation as the case study, but with much less information (no knowledge of the written exercise was needed, although it would have helped to do the written first). I got preparation time to review the information provided, and prepare some questions in advance of the one-on-one 'meeting'. In the meeting part, you have to be prepared to ask difficult questions and you will find they may be semi-aggressive ("why should I answer to you?!") and a general reluctance to provide information willingly.

At lunchtime we ate in the hotel's restaurant, but there was no opportunity to speak to any graduates on the programme, only the HR guy.

Hope that is of some help in mentally preparing yourself. There really isn't much preparation you can do in terms of reading up etc.

Good luck, hopefully you do better than me ;-)
ucayman

hey guys.. i got an interview coming up in a fu days.. any advice would be greatful. thank you :)

I got an interview in a week, any advice?

hey ucayman, was wondering if theres any more info you can give me on the AC i have one coming very soon, did you read thru the whole Case study? what exactly did u have to do in the group exercise? and u mentioned a bit about the role play.. but it seems like you just had another interview.thanks for the previous post was very helpful. would be great if you could help me. Thank you x

I still haven't had a yes or no after submitting my application...! Is anyone else in the same situation?

i have an assessment centre which i have to book ojnline it says only date available is 10th, and Scarman House which is near birmingham at 8.30am

im outside of london! should i wait to see if another date becomes free with a location near heathrow or book this one?

laxshia,

for the case study I always read through the whole thing, usually putting a star next to what I deem most important, and I also like to put little thoughts on the side of the page to help me write it up (i.e. segregation of duties is needed for this role, to improve they could do X etc)

The group exercise was to work together to make a decision for and come up with a press release for a local council who needed to expand into bigger offices but there were concerns about wildlife, impact on community, cost etc. But it is probably a different group exercise now (mine was in the summer).

The role play was based on another case study, and I had to come up with questions and improvement ideas in the preparation time... during the one-to-one role play part I had to ask them various questions about why something happened, what they did, and how they were improving things. But again is probably a bit different.
Also had another interview that was separate.

hope that helps and good luck,
Ucayman.

kkhimji2001,

You could give them a call or email, and see if they have another A/C planned in the near future. If you are worried about getting there on the morning due to distance... Then don't, as they will put you up in a hotel the night before...

ucayman.

Yay iv finally had an email inviting me to online tests! Seems iam a few weeks behind!

How are you getting on Ucayman and kkhimji2001? Have you guys heard back?

there was one assessment centre in Coventry early Feb which I did not book, there are some more dates coming out in March, hopefully one near London!

Hey guys,

I have my interview on friday and I genuinely really really want to work for them! However I am rubbish at interviews so any further advice would really be much appreciated. Are there any other q.s apart from competency ones like the common team work/problem solving/communication questions, as well as why audit commission and what do you think ul be doing? And do you definitely not re-sit the tests?

Thanking you with anticipation!

kkhimji2001, I think I came accross that same a/c date, didn't book it and now I've been waiting ages for another available date! have you been able to book a slot yet?

I got an email today saying new dates have been released but logged onto account and nothing solat, we should definately talk about it beforehand, you know if any are in london?

i received that email today aswell. I was able to get on and book a slot but none that I saw were in or around london. The two available at the time were in Warwickshire. I don't think theres much chance of a London one so will probably need to make do with what they have. I have been told that they can put people up in a hotel the night before if need be but this is something I will need to look into.

oh ok well i should booked one before in coventry in feb as i waited for one to be near london.. let me know if you see any availability

oh ok well i should booked one before in coventry in feb as i waited for one to be near london.. let me know if you see any availability

i called AC today and it is unlikely that they will release dates for London. I have booked it for 19th and was told the same thing about accomodation

ok did you book by phone or online?

i booked it online

oh there is a new date? i dont see anything

Anyone know what the actual core competencies the audit commission look for?

Rocketfire,

When I was applying I went on the basis that they would have the same competencies accross their non-grad recruiting as well. Check out the general careers website for their competency framework. http://www.everybody-counts.co.uk/working_for_us/competency_framework/

Thats great, thank you ucayman!!!!

Hey is anyone else having trouble trying to book an assesment centre day. I had an interview at the end of Jan and heard nothing till last week. Had been checking everyday for a date to book. I was told they would be held in March. I got the email last week, asking me to click on a link to go and book a day. When I did I Just got the Same message, telling me to check back, as slots would be released periodically (I tried doing this no longer than 20 mins after I recieved the email). I then rang them explaining the situation, and the girl was not very helpful. Basically told me that the slots fill up very fast (like in 20 mins?) and that they were now deciding weather or not to hold any further assesment days. This is something that I am really interested in and am now worried that they may not hold any futher days.

I am worried too, the woman said that there will be more assessment days but none have been arranged so far. I will be very upset if after making it this far, they close their recruitment scheme for this year

Hi guys,
I had my interview in Jan and then repeatedly got emails telling me to log in and book an assesment centre but everytime i went on there were none available and i too literally went on 15 mins after getting the email.

I have now finally got one, but that was organised over the phone, still nothing appearing in my account space.

Any ideas what the assessment centre is going to include? they mentioned written exercise, group exercise and role play. Anyone know if there is anything else, ie. will there be repeat numerical/verbal reasoning tests? What about a second interview?

all the best
jebby

anyone got their a/c tomorrow?

anyone have the a/c today? is anyone able to give their experiences please?

anyone got a reply from last weeks assessment centra???????????????????????

anyone still waiting to book their assessment centre?

yeh i am still waiting too book my assessment centre when i phoned i was told to just keep cheeking the website for a slot. has any one had any look booking one recently?

any1 get the job? i didnt

I got a job! But they said they'd ring on Monday and still haven't... Getting a bit worried- really want to know where I'm placed! Anyone else having the same issues?

me too! I got a call on the 24th and they said will send out the contract in the post but I still don't know where I will be placed :s

im still waiting to book my assessment centre

kkhimji2001- Have you rung up to ask if they're putting out any more assessment centres? Hope things work out for you.

as3105- Have you heard back from them yet? I got the email on Monday morning but still waiting for the call. Where are you hoping to work? Do you know if there are any London places still available? Because I hear they fill up pretty quickly.

Hey does anyone know if more assesment days will be put on. I went for an interview at end of Jan, and got asked to attend a day, yet still no word, just keep getting told they will let me know, but have no idea when or if this will be. I have to say, I have been really unimpressed by their recruitment process, it just feels like they are keeping me in the dark and not giving me any information. Any one elsee suffereing similar problems ?

I was told that they were holding more assesment centres when I went to mine a month ago and it would be really unfair if the don't. Good luck with it

piano88 - I haven't heard anything since.. i'm hoping to work in London. They will be sending info on location along with the contract. I'll keep you updated! what did your email say?

mattalexander1788-same here,been waiting since mid March,every time I contact the recruitment they have the same answer: we are confirming the final number of vacancies and will get in touch as soon as we have the dates confirmed for more assesment days!!!I hope this does not mean that its closed for this year and they are trying to find a way of telling people!

Any of you guys that have been to a day,can you please post about what was it like?there is a post but its from last Summer.

Just tried to log on too see if any asssessment centre dates were availbale and my log in screen has changed it no loger lets me choose an a assessment centre and my status of application has changed from invited to assessment centre to just blank! i think this must mean they have closed applecations for this year!!!

Luke88- Same here, my log in screen has changed now also. Is anyone else experiencing this ? Rang them yesterday and the Girl did not seem to know much about it.............. as usual really, still got told same old thing, ie that they are still confirming numbers and that they would be in touch in the next week or so. Have to say that things dont look very positive unfortunatly. Just feels as if I am being strung along......... not happy at all !

 after a month of waiting to book assessment day,I got this email today,all I can say is...Good luck to all of us waiting!!!so they invite you for interview,tell you that you have passed and to book your assessment,no dates available for some time,now this???to think that this organisation has a mission to get others to get their act together!!!

Applications for our Trainee Auditor role have reached record numbers this year and the standard of applications has been particularly high. Due to these factors we will temporarily have to put your application on hold until we can confirm whether our vacancies for 2009 have been filled. Please be assured that we will be in contact with you shortly once this information has been confirmed.

In the meantime, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us on 01635 584145.

as3105- I'm hoping to go to London too! If there are no places left, I don't want to go any further north than Birmingham really... My email said:

Good morning,
This is just to update you that we are still finalising the distribution
of trainee locations for September.
Once I have this I will make it a priority to make contact with you
immediately.
I have been chasing for a response on a daily basis.
I wanted to drop you this line to assure you have not been forgotten and
that our requirements have not changed in anyway. The delay is due
because we are doubling our intake this year and there is a need for
discussions to decide where we our trainees are going to be working.
Please accept my apologies for the delay
regards

Still heard nothing yet though! Haven't got my contract through the post either. Have you?

So if the reason they aren't doing well organisation-wise with the graduate trainees is because they're doubling their intake number for 2009, then maybe there's a similar reason for not putting out enough assessment centres?

Has anyone heard anything re assessment centres yet?

Hey, I got an email last friday saying they were still confirming final numbers if they were going to hold any further assesment days. just said my application is still on hold, and they will be in contact as soon as they find out................ not impressed, been hearing this for about 3 months now, anyone else experencing something similar

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