Intern/Trainee Review

I was an audit intern at PwC, which involved working in a team for a client where I would carry out audit procedures and tasks that were assigned to me by my seniors. I participated in daily discussions with my team about the progress in which we were making with the audit and helped out anyone in the team who needed my assistance. I got the opportunity to work on more technical aspects of the audit which I was surprised about and was able to interact directly with the client on occasion.

I have developed many practical and applicable skills at my time at PwC. One of the biggest technical skills I developed was excel, as I used it almost every day I became comfortable in navigating myself around the programme and therefore was able to use it effectively which made me more efficient in my tasks. I also developed my soft skills like communication, as it was important to communicate effectively and in a timely manner to my team and other staff especially as I was working virtually.

The programme was very enjoyable, it was my first time working in a professional environment but PwC is a very welcoming firm so I didn't feel nervous which meant I was able to enjoy the full experience of it. It was unfortunate as I was working virtually and so couldn't get the normal benefits of the office but PwC made every effort to involve me in fun activities like various socials that took place.

The Programme seemed to be well organised and run. As it was run virtually there would've been a major adjustment to how it was previously done, but the transition appeared very smooth. There was always a structure to our day and we were always aware of what we should be doing on that day be it either working with a team or undertaking training. My resourcing manager was also very helpful in assisting me with any changes that I had to my timetable to ensure I get the best experience possible.

At PwC there is various support channels in which you are able to access for different needs. Everyone was assigned a resourcing manager, a buddy and a career coach which meant that if you had any concerns about anything or needed some support you could always get in touch with someone when you needed too. However, I felt comfortable enough to reach out to my team members as well, as everyone is so nice and always eager to help.

While I was on placement at PwC we were also studying for our exams. This learning was done remotely and so we were given online material to help us with our studies. We were also encouraged to ask lots of questions to our training providers as they understood that it was important to reach out while we were working away from the University. This was helpful, as I still felt like we had some level of support system.

Surprisingly I have found that the current qualifications I am taking, strongly align with the work I'm doing professionally. We have covered the basics of audit and assurance which meant I was able to use some of this knowledge and apply it to my work. I found that also carrying out my role it helped me in my academic studies as well, learning and picking up new things in a practical sense that I find would help me in my exams.

PwC made every effort to put on extra curricular activities especially because most people were away from the office and they wanted to ensure everyone's wellbeing was looked after. These activities often included social fun activities like quiz nights where you had the chance to win points for your team and also more seasonal activities like Diwali and Christmas Socials. They also recognised how important it was to keep physically fit during covid restricted times and so offered various physical classes daily.

Yes

PwC is one of the biggest accounting firm's in the world and therefore this will give you the opportunity to see how a leading firm in this industry operates and get an understanding as to why they are one of the best. This will likely improve your skills technically as an accountant. However the working environment at PwC proceeds its reputation, it is a truly inspiring and enjoyable place to work, mainly due to their fantastic employees. Every employee at PwC although very different individually all take pride sharing the same culture that PwC push for.

Applying for a role at PwC is a highly sought after job and therefore is quite competitive. A lot people really want to work for the big 4 because they are the big 4, but this isn't a good enough reason for you to apply. You need to understand what the culture and environment is at PwC and why you think you fit in there. You need to also practice the application assessment procedures as they can be difficult if you don't.