Issue 21

A day in the life: finance

…of three recent grads, now working in finance.

post

17 March 2025

In this issue’s edition of our day in the life series, we hear from three recent graduates who work in finance:

  • Megan Tarry works in audit in London,
  • Bayley McNevin works in audit in Liverpool,
  • Anna Lee works in tax in London.

Megan Tarry

Hey! I’m Megan and I’ve worked in audit in London in a graduate role since August. I’m doing an apprenticeship to become ACA qualified which has involved studying for exams (so far I’ve done 6 out of 15) alongside full time work. Despite the controversial opinions, I’ve really enjoyed my time in audit so far. Every day, I’ve worked on something different and I’ve learned so much in such a short space of time. Although the maths that I use barely goes beyond GCSE level, the application challenges you to think in different ways which I have found really interesting! Welcome to a random day in my life!

My first challenge of the day is trying to find the cheapest, least congested, most reliable way to get to work… it’s rare to get the luxury of all three! Today I decide to take the tube, which gets me to work around 8.40am. This means I have 20 minutes to settle myself in, make a cup of tea and catch up on emails and admin.

Yesterday I sent out some requests for supporting documents to the client I am currently auditing, so I spend the beginning of my day checking our client portal to see if anything has been submitted.

Then, at 9.30, I have my morning catch up with the rest of my team where we discuss our progress and plans for the day, before moving onto supplier statement testing that I made a start on yesterday. This involves ensuring that all purchase amounts issued by suppliers of goods to the client have been correctly recorded in the client’s purchase records (AKA a lot of Excel work). I then spend a quick 20 minutes before lunch sending an email to our data analytics team to resolve some formatting issues with a document (it has over a million rows of data!).

We break for lunch for an hour and I spend it heading out for a walk in the city before sitting down to chat to others in my intake. The nice thing about a grad scheme like this is that there are a lot of us in the same position—a few years out of uni with a lot to learn about the job.

Megan's lunch (a tupperware of pasta) with some other lunches on a table.

Rate my meal deal (we give it a 6)

After lunch, I speak to my assistant manager who briefs me on my task for the afternoon. I then work on some other areas of the audit, checking that the accounts figures we have for this year reconcile with some supporting documentation that we have been provided.

My day wraps up at 5.30pm and I rush back home to get ready to head out again. Having to balance both work and study has made it harder to prioritise a work–life balance so I joined a local competitive cheerleading team to ensure that I step away from work for at least a couple of hours a week in my busiest times and get some endorphins!

It’s fun to stay at the AAAA

Bayley McNevin

My day starts at 7am, with the usual scramble to get up and ready. By 7.45am, I’m on the Merseyrail, heading into the office in the Liver Building (I know, I know—fancy). The early train is a little bit busy, but it’s worth it to get a head start in the morning. I mostly spend the journey scrolling through emails, mentally preparing myself for another busy day.

POV: your train is arriving and it’s a class 777

I get to the office, get myself set at my desk, and head to my 9am catch-up meeting. Today we’re discussing progress on our current client. It’s the usual—everyone gives updates, talks through any problems, and someone inevitably brings up Excel shortcuts that no one has actually mastered yet. But that’s the audit life—a mix of progress, spreadsheets, and always a dash of confusion.

After the meeting, I do some of my work before I grab a quick lunch. Today, it’s soup that I made last night. I also grab a free fizzy drink from the `can fridge’—a bit of an office legend at this point. The new office was specifically designed with this fridge in mind, so it’s basically a rite of passage to raid it when the midday hunger hits. It’s a small comfort in the middle of the hectic day.

Post-lunch, I’m in a meeting with the client. We’re walking them through some of our findings and discussing next steps. It’s always a bit tense, even when everything’s going well. I try to keep my nerves in check—presenting your work is never as easy as you think it’s going to be, no matter how many times you’ve done it. But we get through it without any disasters.

The highlight of the day? Getting my new laptop. My old one finally died last week, the screen just went black and never came back on. I swear, I heard it give a sigh of relief when it gave up. But today, the shiny new replacement arrives, and I can’t say I’m not a little excited. Setting it up takes far too long—but at least I’ll have something that works now.

By the time 5pm rolls around, I’m definitely ready to switch gears. I meet up with an old uni friend for a pizza at Rudy’s, which is just the break I need. We catch up on life and try not to talk about work too much. It’s the perfect way to unwind after a full day of client calls, deadlines and technology drama.

Spot the former DITL contributor

After tea I head home, where the real work begins: ACA exam revision. I’ve got a law exam coming up, and I still have three exams left to tackle after that. It’s not glamorous, but I know it’s part of the process. One step closer to finishing the qualification—and one step closer to knowing what it’s like to sleep again. And hopefully, one step closer to being able to drink from the can fridge without feeling guilty about it.

Anna Lee

Hi, I’m Anna! Last June, I graduated from Durham University with a BA in liberal arts, focusing on history and economics. Fast forward to today—I’m living in London and working as an indirect tax analyst on a graduate scheme. As part of my role, I’m also studying for two professional qualifications: the Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) and the Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA). That means a few months of the year, I swap spreadsheets for study leave, diving deep into tax law and compliance.

Do you think Anna’s textbook was typeset in \LaTeX?

Since joining my graduate scheme, no two days have been the same. The nature of my work keeps things fresh, and while I’ve tried to capture a typical week, every day brings something new.

We have a hybrid working model, but we’re encouraged to come into the office at least three times a week. Personally, I find I’m most productive in the office, so I usually go in Monday to Thursday. My day typically starts between 8.30 and 9.00am—cycling in when the weather allows (which is a great way to wake up!). With a coffee in hand, I check my inbox, follow up on queries, and review any responses to emails I’ve sent to our member firms.

Most of the client accounts I work on involve overseas trade and VAT compliance for UK-based companies with operations abroad. Businesses often need guidance on navigating international VAT regulations, and we help them through our global network.

By 9.30, the office is buzzing. Once a week, our team—12 people strong—gets together for a catch-up on recent tax updates and ongoing projects. Given our small size, we don’t need daily meetings, but we always stay in the loop on each other’s work.

As the day progresses, I tackle emails, client queries, and VAT return reviews—especially as deadlines approach. There’s a steady flow of work, but the variety keeps it interesting.

At midday, I break up the routine with a lunchtime run alongside a teammate, getting some fresh air before diving back into work. If I’m not running, I’m catching up with colleagues from my training cohort. One of the perks of working in a big firm is meeting loads of people my age who, like me, are navigating their first corporate job post-university.

Once the workday wraps up, I either hit the office gym or meet up with friends. Thursdays, in particular, are big social nights—grads often gather for a post-work drink at a nearby pub before heading home.

Life as a graduate in London is fast-paced, but I love the balance of work, learning and socialising. No two days are ever quite the same, and that’s what makes it exciting!

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