Flying Start Degree Programme - FS1 More London Review

The daily role is to perform audit tasks, these can vary daily. This year I have had the responsibility of performing the testings, e.g. journals, revenue etc for one entity. If necessary we will go to client site to hold meetings there as it can sometimes be more effective to do so.

I have developed the generic time management and team work skills through working as part of an engagement team. However, I have also developed my skills centered around the PwC professional framework. The PwC Professional Framework includes the following attributes: whole leadership; technical capabilities; business acumen, global acumen and relationships. I set goals at the beginning of placement around this framework hoping to achieve them by the end.

I thoroughly enjoy the Flying Start degree programme. I believe it is the only programme of its kind in the accounting field which offers the best of both worlds. Before finding this programme I was considering doing a straight apprenticeship; however, this programme offers the opportunity to obtain a degree whilst offering paid placements. Not to mention my cohort at university and colleagues at work make the experience much more enjoyable. The programme has exceeded all my expectations.

The programme is fairly well structured. We start off in university for first term for learning the content for our exams then before starting placement we receive intensive training from PwC to prep us. This generally focuses on the tasks we will be expected to complete throughout placement. There are many levels to the support system if we struggle to understand something whether this be at university or PwC.

The main support system for us during our placement is our career coaches. Not only are these the people who sign off our goals and our ICAEW hours they are only ever a hangout away if we have a question or want to vent about anything that is annoying us at work.

The support the lecturers provide at university cannot be faulted. Often providing extensive lecture notes as well as being open to having 1 to 1 consultations should we require it. Often many students (including myself) take up the opportunity to have individual meetings with our lecturers to smooth out any misunderstandings in our knowledge as these prove to be very helpful.

The thing about the Flying Start Degree is that the exams which we sit at university are those which we need to take in order to obtain our professional accreditation. Therefore, we can easily take the knowledge which we learn at university and apply it to our work, for example, I have understood the presentation of the financial statements more this year since taking FAR.

I am aware of there being sports teams/activities at PwC such as netball or dodgeball which everyone is welcome to join; however, I have not yet had the opportunity to do so. As another type of extracurricular activity upon joining everyone is placed into a social group. This year I was placed into Music group and whilst I was on placement a Valentine's day pizza lunch was held which gave an opportunity to mix with colleagues I wouldn't normally speak to.

Yes

PwC is a great company to work for; they offer lots of support in many different ways. There is also opportunity to progress within the firm with your career coach able to assist you as you do this; even if you do not wish to stay within the same department.

The application process we experienced as part of the Flying Start Degree programme was perhaps a little different to others as we also university requirements to meet. However, the tips/advice that I would give is make sure you know the PwC Framework for the interview as I am sure that is a question everyone got asked in the interview. Also, we had a group interview - make sure you participate in this but don't be too overpowering in the group.