Flying Start Degree Programme (FS3 Leeds) Review

Audit Supervisor working in the new Competency Centre based in Leeds but moving to Bradford. This specialises in the audit of Cash and PPE, supporting the work of onsite delivery teams while completing work remotely to drive standardisation and automation. Day to day this included coaching team members through their audit work, reviewing the work and managing calls and meetings.

I developed my management skills in terms of managing multiple commitments at once, often working on up to 8 engagements at any given time. Planning and prioritisation of work was essential. I also developed my people skills, working with and coaching and mentoring a team of 10 Client Service Administrators.

I really enjoy the programme as we learn content from a range of topics across Business, Accouting and Finance and also touch on Law and Economics. The content is challenging and intellectually challenging, but is balanced with practical work experience which is a really valuable opportunity to put the learning into practice.

The programme is very well structured, stating with Certificate Level exams in Year 1, followed by Professional Level Exams in Year 2. These are also balanced out with some university exams as to ensure a broad range of topics is covered. Timetables are provided at the start of each module and different module leaders interact with each other well to ensure deadlines are staggered

Lots of support is received from PwC while we are on placement. Our Career Coach will support us through the achievement of our goals and discussing both short and long term plans, while there is also a Flying Start Champion in the office (a recently graduated FS) who is available to answer any of our questions and offer support.

Not much interaction with the training provider is required, but I feel this is received where necessary. A member of the ICAEW will give a talk every year to discuss any changes, developments, current issues, and remind us what we are working towards. We also receive updates by email and post where applicable.

The qualification helps our role as we cover lots of different topics from Accounting, Finance, Business, Law and Economics which gives us a broad range of knowledge which we can apply in our role. Working in audit requires not only accounting knowledge but also a broader knowledge of business and the way companies operate, which the qualification provides.

There are lots of social events, the largest being Christmas and end of busy season but also smaller socials throughout the year such as new joiner drinks, games nights, cinema socials etc. The activities are very varied and cater to lots of different interests. There are also sports teams, lunch time running club, volunteering events and more.

Yes

It’s a great place to work in terms of the different experiences available, the chance to work on such varied engagements and opportunities for further personal development (e.g through career coaching or secondments to other areas of the firm). The work-life balance is sometimes challenging, especially in busy season, but if you are willing to work hard the benefits are good

To be aware that the job requires hard work and dedication, sometimes long hours and travelling, but the rewards are good and the firm is a great place to work in terms of the opportunities they offer. There are roles in various lines of service all over the world and PwC encourage employees to explore these.