Ruschil Aggarwal
The EY Degree (BSc Accounting, Auditing & Finance), 2009
Country of origin: India
Placements: Ernst & Young
Employer: Ernst & Young
Lancaster University Management School has such a great reputation - which is one of the reasons I decided to study here. It's renowned for its academic excellence not only in the UK but throughout the world. And the Ernst & Young Degree is unique with its blend of academic and professional exposure. It promised to be both challenging and highly rewarding.
I also liked the sprawling yet self-contained campus, which provides a comfortable student life. Additionally, the living costs at Lancaster are lower than those in major cities.
The Ernst & Young degree provided me with a unique opportunity to spend 18 months working on placement with Ernst & Young in London. I was able to put the academic concepts learnt at Lancaster to practical use, developing a wider perspective, gathering credits towards my fast-track Chartered Accountancy qualification, and simultaneously acquiring a lot of professional and corporate exposure.
The Accounting & Finance department at LUMS took an active interest in my development, even when I was away on placement. The department functioned as a kind of sounding board for any challenges I might be encountering, be it at University or at work.
I took advantage of the diversity in the student contingent to associate with colleagues from different backgrounds and cultures and develop some lasting friendships - particularly through the Cricket and Archery Clubs, and the Economics Society. I represented the University at the NEUAL Archery competitions in 2006 and 2007.
My placements with Ernst & Young in London involved performing walkthroughs, tests of controls, substantive year-end audit procedures and FSA return checks of FTSE 100 companies (Aviva subsidiaries), Lloyds Syndicates and Insurance Brokers (AON and RFIB). The clients were based in London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Norwich and York.
I joined Ernst & Young after graduation and intend to complete the remaining credits towards the CA qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). At some point I hope to pursue an MBA in Finance from a prestigious business school, and maybe set up my own business venture.
