Flying Start Review

Member of the Audit team at PwC. This role is based around external audits on the financial statements of listed and private companies. The role involves gaining confidence on the numbers which make up the financial statements through a series of tests. An example of this is selecting samples from the Cost of sales listing and asking to see a purchase invoice (to verfiy the cost) and a link to revenue to ensure it should be included in the cost of sales amount.

Within the role, you are working with new teams regularly and new clients. The role is a client dependent role in that we require evidence from the client to show how they reached the outcome they have. As a result of this you develop stronger people skills as a better relationship with the client ensures an easier audit.

As with all there are positives and negatives. The main positive is the exposure to many FSLI and different areas to audit. The complex tasks are handled by a more senior member however this did not mean that all our tasks were easy. I was given challenging tasks and where required i was given the necessary coaching to perform these tasks. One downside to joining during busy season is that people are extremely busy. At times this felt like by asking for help or guidance it was adding another task to an already busy day for colleagues.

Within the organisation, there is a high awareness of the flying start programme. In fact I have even had managers speak of the envy that the programme was not around when they started studying as it provides a head start over normal accounting degree programmes. Managers and Senior Associates are aware of the programme and therefore have an expectation as to the level of work you are able to complete.

Our employer provides support and ensures that we have open channels to voice concerns and queries. This includes pairing us with a buddy from years above who have all been in the lower years shoes. Further to this, you are most likely to ask "silly questions" to a peer rather than somebody more senior such as a manager.

The training provider work directly with the university. However we still have all the channels of communication that a ICAEW student has if they were taking the ICAEW exams rather than the approved university exams. Whilst on placement, academic tutors keep in touch to ensure we are enjoying placement and to ask questions if we have concerns.

The main purpose of this programme is to gain your ICAEW accreditation, with the university degree as a bonus. The qualification is vital to ensuring that you have a future career in audit, and finance in general as jobs in industry often require you to hold certain qualifications. For future career prospects the qualification is essential.

PwC has multiple societies. We join during busy season, and at this time extra-curricular activities are limited. This is due to the long hours that people are working, however there are still team debriefs and end of the week drinks. Outside of busy season there are events such as the Curry Night were all in the audit line of service go for a curry, with roughly 120 people in attendance. There are also sports events which take place in the summer months.

Yes

If you are looking to build a career in audit, financial services or in the finance industry PwC is a good place to do this. Not only does PwC offer the chance to progress internally, the experience from working for PwC is sought after by industry finance employers. Particularly working within the audit team at PwC.

Have a career plan set. Nobody expects you to know what you are going to be doing in the next 5/10/15 years however if you have a rough plan off where you think you want to be and how PwC can help you get there, then this will work in your favour. Explore other options. PwC is not going to be right for everyone. If you search around and still think that PwC is your best option at least you apply with the knowledge that you are doing what is best for you.