Associate Review

I was an associate in UK assurance, working as part of a team to provide audit services to a variety of clients. Work would be split between the office and time out on client site. I would be performing tests on different companies finances to ensure that they were accurate.

I have developed a lot of existing skills such as confidence and communication, both in speech and in writing, when dealing with clients. I have also learnt a lot of new and sped up my existing Microsoft Excel skills that have made me more efficient and productive when doing my work.

I enjoy my programme a lot because I think it is the perfect balance between university life and work life. I am glad that we have short placements every year rather than an entire year out in third year. It helps that my modules are tailored to my placement and help me apply what I am learning on the job.

The programme is very well structured, with a placement in each of the final three years. It is very well organised with regular emails and/or meetings to discuss what is going on. We have regular lectures and support to provide us with the best chance of doing well in our exams.

There are numerous avenues of support provided from PwC. Each of us is assigned a buddy, who is in their second year at the firm, as well as a career coach who is an experienced manager. There is also a flying start champion who is a graduate of the programme who is there to support us if we have any problems regarding the programme.

We have lectures once or twice a week, as well as numerous seminars to consolidate our learning. We have a personal tutor that we can go to with any queries or concerns, and we are well integrated with students in the year above us who we can go to for support if need be.

The modules that we do at university such as financial accounting and reporting, audit and assurance, and management accounting are particularly useful on placement as a lot of the content covers what we do on a day to day basis which allowed me to pick up the job a lot quicker.

In my office there was the opportunity in first placement to represent the office in a football match which I did. There are social events organised at least once a month, often more depending on the time of year. There are numerous emails sent round about networking events and opportunities.

Yes

Mainly the people! I have made a lot of great friends who are a pleasure to work with. Everyone understands that as a placement student, you are not expected to know everything straight away, and therefore they go out of their way to help you in any way possible. PwC is also a well respected member of the big 4 and it is good for career progression.

If someone was applying to PwC, I would encourage them to thoroughly research the role so that they know what exactly they are applying for. I would give suggestions for the application process and application days, such as being confident but making sure not to speak over others. I wish that I had been told more about the client work we do at PwC.