Flying Start Degree programme, FS2, Edinburgh Review

I would start the day in conversation with my team, creating a plan for the day and discussing which areas to prioritise and tackle. The approach was to request certain documents from the client, and once received, I would document these in the relevant excel spreadsheets. From this, we can test the documents, by picking samples, and tracing them back to other pieces of supporting evidence. My team was always on hand and happy to help with any and all questions I had. I would update my progress on a communal tracker, so that the rest of my team could stay up to date with the overall progress. We were each responsible for an area of the audit, however, would help each other out when needed.

The skill that I have developed the most is definitely my communication ability. Being in regular conversation with both the client and the audit team, helped build my confidence significantly. This was noticed inside and outside of the audit room. Additionally, my theoretical understanding of accounting has improved greatly. Putting my theory knowledge into practice has made me feel a lot more confident going in to our upcoming exams.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the programme. I have met a number of brilliant, insightful people, both in and out of University. It has also been a great experience living in an entirely new city. PwC accommodate newcomers very well and ensure that we feel well settled and comfortable in our new environment. It's comforting to know that at the end of my time at University, all being well, I will have a job secured. If I were to choose my course again, I would.

My course is very well structured. From the beginning, we were given a layout of what the next 4 years of our life would look like. Each year we are reminded of the exams completed, and the exams ahead, so we have an idea of where we are. The university allocate a sufficient amount of study time prior to exams, so we have a little bit of freedom to revise in our own way. During the placement, there's a clear structure to the team too. We each have a role name, for example I was an 'associate', so we are all aware of how experienced each individual is. This also helps us to understand who to turn to with our different queries.

I would say that we are very well supported at PwC. At the beginning of each job, all team members will be involved in some kind of catch up - where we can introduce ourselves, our roles and our team plan. We are also alloacted a Career Coach who stays in regular contact with us throughout the placement. Any queries I had that weren't job specific, I would confide in my Career Coach first. We also have office Champions who were once on the Flying Start course - they are very useful in sharing their experiences and giving guidance for now and the future.

We were all allocated a tutor at the beginning of our University career. It was made clear that they were always there for any kind of support we required, all we had to do was reach out. Each tutor took a different approach, my tutor would email me once a year asking if I needed a catch up - whereas I know people that would get termly, mandatory catch ups. It's comforting to know we have the support there should we need it - I think it's down to each individual person and their preferences.

I have certainly put what I have learnt in the classroom, into practice. However it is all dependent on which type of clients you work on. This year, I worked on multiple manufacturing clients - which related significantly to the work I had been covering at University. However, Edinburgh deals largely in financial service clients - something we don't cover in as much detail at University. I think the general accounting concepts are definitely transferrable. Working in industry has also helped me when going back to University too, I find concepts a lot easier to pick up and understand now that I've seen it in practice.

The one thing I thoroughly enjoyed throughout my placement was the social nature of the job. At the end of each audit, teams will typically organise some kind of social event - ranging from a meal out, to bowling, to karaoke. There's a real sense of team spirit and it's cemented well through these social activities. I also took part in the PwC netball team, that would meet once a week for games and training. It was a great way to make friends and recognise faces around the office.

Yes

PwC not only offer great training with a clear career route, but they also look after their employees very well. I've made a great number of friends already, and I'm only on my second placement. The opportunities they offer are brilliant, especially opportunities to travel. As a company they are very flexible and allow people to work around their other life commitments. I can see myself staying on at PwC for a while.

I would advise you to be open minded and willing to learn. Concepts may seem difficult and days may feel long, but after a lot of practice, things click faster than you'll think. I'd say get involved as much as you can. It makes the whole experience more enjoyable and you can make brilliant friends out of it. Be prepared for the assessment and interview process - you'll feel a lot more calm on the day if you know what you want to say. Also make an effort with the people on your assessment day, you'll be working closely alongside them for the next 4 years.