Audit Associate Review

I had no experience of auditing prior to my first placement in winter 2018. Initially, we had very little responsibilities and were tasked with very simple jobs such as proof reading reports and casting financial statements. On my first proper external audit job, I was given more responsibility. I was assigned areas of the financial statements to work on (mainly asset side) as testing was much more easy and simple. I had to report on my testing/findings to a standard that satisfied my senior. A lot of my time was spent asking my audit seniors about audit methodology and reasoning for audit testing.

Yes, firstly my team working skills have improved massively, as working in an audit team heavily relies of building relationships with other team members, to enable audit work to be conducted efficiently and effectively. I was given a lot of opportunity to communicate directly with clients as well which built on my communications skills. It helped improve confidence of what I was talking about and the reasoning for certain information that I required of clients

I believe the programme is very well structured for students that want a good combination of student and real working life. At university we work hard to learn the theory that we apply to working situations but also build up a wider and greater understanding of the business world through other modules. The company culture at PwC is also very accommodating for new and young students with no experience, as all the staff that I experienced working with were very friendly and helpful and always made time to discuss matters or difficulties with me.

The programme is very well structured. It merges typical British university life with that of a top employers so student enrolled on the programme enjoy the best of both worlds. When at university, the experience is fully immersive (a whole semester is spent studying rather than half work half study) and as such students are able to fully integrate themselves into the uni lifestyle. The university offers a very good support network with tutors, lecturers and the wider student services team offering support whenever needed.

During the work placements, new associates are never far from help and support. There is a culture of helping new associates to develop and learn quickly and with the best guidance. All the managers I have worked with have been very friendly and are very considerate of any situations where help may be required. There are varying levels of support all the way from the team/ manager I'm working on a job with, to the career coach that helps with any personal issues that we have.

The university is always available with support networks extending from the personal tutors/lecturers to the university's student services team. Although I have not required the help of my tutors, they always make themselves available and accessible when students have problems or difficulties and have a very good general attitude to supporting students with all aspects of student life

As well as working towards a degree, students also are able to qualify to become chartered accountants. The degree side of the studying helps build a very solid foundation of theory to give students a good understanding of the work they will be doing while on placement. It obviously heavily focuses on auditing. accounting and tax studies but also gives students a wider understanding of business with modules on economics, law and organisation studies integrated into the programme.

The university offers a very broad and wide range of activities/ socials through the student union. Opportunities to join societies are plentiful and often well used by students on the programme. These socials range from sports social such as football, to cinema club, to pub socials etc. At the university there are activities for nearly every conceivable thing so students are always able to find something that will suit there wants and needs.

Yes

There is a great company culture, a place where all the staff are very friendly and dedicated to what they do. There is the opportunity to work with a wide range of people in teams of varying sizes. The accommodating aspect of PwC as well in terms of the capacity to be put on jobs to work with certain clients or certain managers is very unique. Working hours can be long though although there is a great scope for development and learning as a young auditor learning the trade.

Working hours during busy season can be occasionally long and gruelling so be prepared to give up some of your social time, but as everyone in the teams do it there is a great sense of unity and responsibility to your colleagues to help each other out to get the job done.