Flying start degree programme FS2 London Review

by PwC

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

6.4/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

working in audit with a team, performing routine basic audit procedures, receiving instructions from senior associates and managers, enquiring with a client where unsure of different ways of accounting treatment, I am expected to use excel and aura predominantly and use prior year audit knowledge to perform appropriate testing where needed.

6/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

I feel like I have definitely learnt some new skills whilst working on my placement with pwc. These included skills mostly revolving around the use of IT software such as microsoft excel and Aura - however I have also developed my skills using pwc create! inform, google sheets and adobe software.

6/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

to what extent did I enjoy the programme is a good question. I enjoyed the programme on my second placement more than i enjoyed the programme on my first placement. I think that this is because I knew what to expect for the second placement and had a better audit knowledge.

6/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

the programme is organised/structured just like a normal graduate job. This is because we are expected to perform work just like any other associate who has joined the firm as a graduate. It is a 5 day a week paid job and we are expected to take full responsibility for our work

8/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

In terms of support received from the employer there are several ways you could answer this question. We receive a good wage and the employer also pays our rent and organises accomodation whilst on placement. We get a week of training but it is mostly a learn on the job role. We also have a career coach assigned and a buddy to help any queries.

9/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

as this is part of a universtiy degree programme we all receive a significant amount of support when working towards our qualifications. This is partly because when we go back to uni our uni exams count towards the relevant ICAEW chartered accountancy qualifications required to become ACA qualified. We have to pass these to remain on the course.

7/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

obviously i feel that the qualificaiton through my training provider helps me to perform better in my role as i have to sit several exams targeted specifically at audit and assurance and these are the areas that i am expected to work in during placement - they help although most knowledge comes from working the role

6/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

there are some extra curricular acitivities to get involved in at work but we are not always able to take part given that our placement takes place over the course of busy season where there is not much free time at all for taking part in extra curricular activities at work

3/10

9a. Would you recommend PwC to a friend?

9b. Why?

there is a very poor work life balance as we are expected to work upwards of 14 hour days for relatively low pay regarding the role and our position in audit is not an exciting role. the work is dull and un interesting and during busy season we regularly work weekends.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to PwC?

be prepared for them to take over your entire life and be very stressed about the quantity and difficulty of work you have to do. they said to us at the start of placement that we are not expected to work more than a 48 hour week however you are booked 50 hour weeks and if you dont charge at least that they chase you up for not doing enough hours.