Flying Start Degree programme - Grade AND office LOCATION Review

by PwC

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

9.1/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

My role is an auditor within banking and capital markets. It is on office job so my day is spent working with a team and confirming balances on the financial statements are free from material misstatements by testing the items that the balances are made up of. All my work is done on a laptop.

8/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

Yes, I have built confidence speaking to clients. When we have issues/ questions during our testing we have to discuss and ask questions to the client. In addition I have developed by team work skills. Each member has their own responsibilities therefore it is really important each member does their part to produce a quality audit.

10/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

I really enjoy it. My placement is for 3 months which allows me to gain experience whilst still at university. It is a really sociable placement - there are a number of socials held so we can get to know our teams and also people who have gone through the same process (flying start degree).

10/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

Really well organised. University and placement is kept very separate, this allows us to have complete focus on the placement/ university. We have regular catch ups with our career coach and are given people to contact if we ever need some help. In addition the university course is very well structured and we know in advance the timetable/ plan for our studies.

9/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

I feel very supported as a flying start. We get support from our team for the job we are working on. Also, we get a number of known contacts within PwC, including our career coach and a buddy. We are often reminded to get in contact with someone if we are ever stuggling.

10/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

Lots of support, our training is part of our university degree meaning the time is very well structured. We have a number of contacts and I feel well supported. We have personal tutors who we can speak to if we are ever having a tough time and the lecturers are very approachable.

10/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

One of our exams was 'Audit and Assurance'. This allowed us to build our knowledge on what the audit processes are and more details of what an audit is. I feel most of the experience we get on the job gives us the best knowledge to improve in our role.

9/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

Yes there are. For example I am part of 'curious coffees' which is where you get to speak to someone in another department who is of a similar grade. This is great as you get to find out what opportunities are available to you within the firm and meet new people.

7/10

9a. Would you recommend PwC to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

I would recommend PwC as I really enjoy my time working for them. It can be really hard work but I have met some great people and i feel like I have learnt a lot on my placement. I feel well supported and the opportunities that come from the placement are great.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to PwC?

I would say be confident and get involved. We had an assessment day where there was a group task and it's really important to contribute and to give your opinions. Always try your best and research the company beforehand/ current business events. You should also have an idea of what the job entails.