Associate Review

My main role was as an auditor of various different businesses. I mainly worked in the manufacturing sector. I tested the reasonableness of the judgments, assumptions and analyses used by management of the companies being audited and ensured they were compliant with financial reporting standards and accounting policies. I tested various areas including Cost of Sales, Equity, Accounts Receivable and Payable.

I have been able to improve my communication and team working skills during my placement. I have also been able to enhance my leadership skills as I had to take responsibility of certain areas of work i.e. the FSLI of Accounts payable/receivable, which included various different tasks. My technical capabilities have been developed while working on different tests.

I was recognised by my team members for work I completed during my placement, including managers, which motivated me to work hard on each job. Moreover, I made lots of new friends on my placement which made my experience more enjoyable. This programme is also certainly a fast-track into becoming an accountant.

It is very well structured. We have a period of time prior to placement in order to learn content for the chartered exams we are required to take in June, and then go on placement for 3 months in order to gain the practical work experience we need to become qualified.

We are checked upon sufficiently on our time on placement. If we are working excessive overtime, the identification officer sends us emails asking if we're alright and need a call. Our university personal tutors also make themselves available for meetings if we need a call about an issue. However there is potential for more support to be provided.

We are given lots of materials in order to revise for our exams, and lots of sessions to help us practice for exams. We are provided constantly with practice exam questions. Our personal tutor also gives us support on how to manage a work/life balance whilst at university and on placement.

The content in modules taught to us at university do help us understand the basics and logistics behind the work we are expected to do, overall it doesn't particularly help my day-to-day work as there are certain ways to do things. Many audits are also very specialised and hence testing is specialised to their type of businesses.

There is a large team of flying starts in the leeds office who are welcoming and often organise walks and nights out etc at weekends to help us settle in. There are also usually socials at the end of busy season where we do a pub crawl etc with the whole of audit, however due to current circumstances, this had to be cancelled.

Yes

They are a very good company to work for, and the benefits and support they provide to you during your time are very good. The community there is brilliant, and you will easily settle in and make friends. Although hard to get to grips with at first, you will soon learn how to do the work.

Learn the pwc professional which you can find on their website, and make sure you know what the ACA is and the relevant exams you will be expected to take in the future in order to become qualified. Also in group scenarios, make sure to be a team-player and not to take the lead.