Flying start Review

I form part of the audit team. We are responsible for ensuring that the financial statements of the client are in fact representative of their affairs. My job is to check, FLSI by FLSI, that the balances they are claiming to have, are true. This involves reconciling cash to bank statements, and accounts receivable to invoices

I've developed lots of new skills. The main skill i'd say that I have developed is an ability to communicate effectively with both my team and members of the client. I've also enhanced my professional scepticism, and regularly find myself asking questions. My navigational skills on excel also improved

I'd say I generally enjoyed the programme. I liked being able to apply what I'd learnt at University into a real life situation. I thought the people I worked with were amazing, and very supportive of me throughout my time there. I also enjoyed the challenge, and found it to be quite rewarding

I think overall it was well structured. We had the main coordinator advising us on how to go about our end of placement review etc. This is made even more impressive given the current virus situation, where face to face meeting is made impractical. The flying start coordinators were also helpful, and would offer great support

PwC are very supportive of their employees. Our group leader would regularly send emails to our group offering numbers to call and places to visit should we have any problems. The culture there also mean that team members are generally very supportive and will regularly check up on you to make sure you are ok

Similar to PwC, the University are also very supportive of us. They would regularly send us emails, including additional revision for our exams, and made sure that we were aware that should we need anything that they were only a phone call away. They really kept us in the loop regarding the whole coronavirus situation

I thoroughly believe that my qualification helped me during my placement. The theoretical accounting knowledge I picked up, and my awareness of the accounting standards, was something that I practically used every day. I was also able to implement the knowledge I picked up on discount factors during my testing of investments.

This is difficult, as we join the firm at the busiest time of year, so there isn't always time to do things such as this. However, they do try to encourage it wherever possible, and I did actually engage in a 5-a-side football tournament with my team, which was very enjoyable

Yes

Working with PwC is a real pleasure. The work is challenging, but rewarding. I think that the culture here is the main reason I enjoy it so much. They very much instill a work hard play hard ethic, but also offer an extremely comprehensive support network should you be engaging in a job that you do no enjoy.

I would advise them to research exactly what is it they want to do. People do not realise how big the firm actually is, and how many services they actually provide. I know that when I joined I was under the impression that it was just audit and accounting, this is not the case. I'd advise they really do their due diligence, and to just jump in, it's a great firm to work for!