Trainee Associate in Audit Review

My role is within audit at PwC so I spend a lot of time visiting different clients to ensure that they are accounting correctly. There isn't really a typical "day to day" description as every day seems to be different. There are some days when I am just based in the office but I tend to be working on several different projects, other days I am out at a clients working on a more specific project. As an Apprentice I also spend a lot of time at college/studying for exams and completing techincal training.

I cannot believe how much I have learnt in the 8 months that I have been at PwC, everyday I seem to learn something new! Everyone is always developing and so there have been times when I have taught something to one of my more Senior Colleagues. I have been able to build on the existing skills that I have and develop more confidence in my own capabilities.

I really enjoy my programme as it is very varied. We complete a professional qualification in accounting (CFAB), a level 4 diploma in audit and also techincal training in how to be able to carry out our jobs. Throughout the programme we have the support of our peer group, this can be particuarly useful when studying for exams as we can gain a lot of knowledge from each other.

At PwC I feel like my contribution is highly valued by the people who I work with. Everyone works together as a team and it's a great feeling when someone on the team tells you that you're doing well or that they're really happy with how much work you have completed. The feedback process at PwC is really useful as you can see where you are doing well and what areas you need to improve on.

The structure of our programme can vary depending on which office/line of service we work in. This can be difficult when you are trying to book time off work as you don't always know when your college days will be. On the whole, the progression pathways for the programme are really good as you always know what is expected of you and what you need to do to progress to the next level. The diploma course seems well structured, although it offers the flexibility of completing extra work to get ahead if you want to.

The support which we receive from our Kaplan Assessors for our diploma is excellent. If ever we have any questions about the work which we have been asked to complete they are always there via phone/email to help out. The Assessor meetings which we have quarterly are always really useful as they give us the chance to see where we have got up to, they are also an opportunity for us to discuss how we think everything is going. During our college study for exams we always have a dedicated point of contact, this means that we always have someone to direct our questions at.

The support network within PwC is vast. When you first join you are assigned a Buddy, someone to help you through your first few months, this is really helpful when you first join as you don't really know how to do anything. Everyone also has a People Manager, this is someone who you can go to with any issues or worries, they are there to support you as you progress through your career. The peer group which you have is also a great support network.

The benefits package at PwC is really good when compared to other school leaver programmes, this includes your salay, choices allowance, holiday package and expenses.

Outside of work there are a lot of opportunities to network with people from other PwC offices and other local businesses and these events tend to be good fun. There are opportunities to get involved in organising social events, charity events and induction events for new starters.

Yes

I would recommend a friend to join PwC as it is a great experience, you learn so much in a short space of time and the people that you work with are lovely. The support that you receive whilst studying from Kaplan and your peer group is really good. The programme is excellent for anyone who wants a career in accounting and you'd be a Chartered Accountant by the age of 22 if you joined straight from college/sixth form.

Be yourself! PwC aren't looking for everyone to be carbon copies of each other so make sure that you're always being yourself, your personality will go a long way. Make sure that you reseach as much as possible before applying as it shows on your application/assessment day if you haven't done enough research.