Flying Start Degree programme - FS2 Uxbridge Review

Audit team member, testing areas of the financial statements in order to gain comfort over the numbers. We work in a team and will need to coach others or seek coaching ourselves. We often work with teams across the world and challenge the client when necessary. We are responsible for our own FSLIs and the testing of them.

This year, I have improved on client relations, I have been working on the skill of communication in the workplace and have developed my confidence in this. I also learnt about new tax and accounting skills at university, some of which have been very complex and have taken some time to grasp.

I enjoy meeting new and like minded people. I enjoy the professional development I am exposed to and I also enjoy the challenges we face on a daily basis. The work is difficult and we are put to work in a very stressful period, sometimes it would be nice to have a bit more support through this.

Our programme is very well structured. We know exactly what our timelines are and what level we should be at every single year. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that we spent our whole first year at university and the structure of the programme balances university and work life perfectly. In terms of organisation, I feel as though this can be quite lax when we go onto placement and lots of things are sometimes left out of communication leaving us to find out for ourselves the hard way.

We are supported by a career coach which we are assigned to at the start of each placement, who are helpful as they are a more senior member in the office. We also have our Flying start champions who are always very helpful and can relate to how you are feeling. However, i feel as though we miss out on communication at times which can add unnecessary stresses.

We receive lots of support from the university of Reading during our qualifications, particularly those in the Henley Business School. We receive lots of lectures in the week and our lecturers will often set questions to do in between these lectures. Also, our lecturers make time for us outside of the classroom to discuss any issues or queries.

We learn both on and off the job which is really helpful. I thoroughly enjoy using my knowledge that I pick up in the first term of uni and applying it to the work I am doing on my placement. Also, when I finish placement and start studying for exams I am able to put my work into practical context.

Yes, we have Fizzy Fridays at the end of each month in the office where everyone stops working at 5:30 and heads to a communal area to have a drink and a catch up with people they may not have seen in some time due to everyone spending most of their time on client site.

Yes

You are pushed and challenged and there is a steep curve of self development if you allow yourself to be pushed and challenged. You meet lots of amazing people who are like minded and make the job one thousand times better. The team mentality goes a long way and drives you to keep going.

Make sure that you are willing to work hard and put the effort in as PwC is very much the place where this is recognised but also where this is expected. There are high expectations on this course that are to be fulfilled. But if you make the most of your opportunities this is a company that will take you very far