Audit Associate Review

During my 3 month placement with PwC, I was involved in various parts of testing on the audit of 3 different clients. These were all investment banks. As part of the audit, I was involved in daily team catchups with the progression of the audit and different areas of testing.

Throughout the placement, I have constantly been using Excel. This has proven very useful when dealing with such large volumes of data. I have learned how to use Pivot tables and how to use various formulas such as 'IF statements' and 'vlookups'. I have also become much more familiar with emails.

Due to being on placement within the Banking and Capital Markets business unit, this has been a very busy placement, working long hours. Despite the long hours, I have learned a lot in a short space of time. I have been able to gain a lot of experience on different clients.

The course I am studying, Business Accounting and Finance at Newcastle University, is very well structured. There are 3 placements in 2nd, 3rd and 4th year, which take place in between Semester 1 and Semester 2. This gives the chance to do exams either side, with the opportunity for practical experience too.

There is a wide range of information on PwC's intranet. These come in the form of different types of training, or videos on different niches of accounting. These are very helpful, as they allow independent learning to compliment the area of work you may be focusing on and any technical aspects.

There is a wide-range of support at Newcastle University (the training provider), especially within the bubble of Business Accounting and Finance. We all have personal tutors, who we are in contact with throughout the year. We're also taught by a range of highly qualified tutors who are there to help with any technical questions we may have.

Due to audit being so technical, the qualification undoubtedly helps us to perform better in the role as an auditor. There is a requirement to become fully qualified before you can progress much higher in the firm. Also, there are so many tricky aspects of an audit, it would be impossible to perform without having the qualification.

Due to this placement being remote (working from home), there has not been any physical activities to get involved in. However there is a weekly quiz within teams on a Friday which is a good way of meeting different people in the team. There are also live streams of exercise classes mid-week, such as Yoga.

Yes

Because there is such a large support network within the firm. Every employee has a career coach who can support you and answer any questions you have, especially as a new joiner. Furthermore, there are such good promotion prospects and there are so many areas of work to try, with such variety, that perhaps a smaller firm wouldn't be able to.

It isn't perhaps about the level of technical knowledge you have when first joining the firm, as everyone completes the exams when you join (if you have not previously done so). It is more about your attitude and approach to the job. The same goes for someone applying on the Flying Start course!