Audit Associate Review

This role is in the accounting sector, auditing financial statements before they are released in the public domain for shareholders and stakeholders to view. This means auditors help to protect the integrity of the financial markets but making sure the information released is materially correct. Therefore the job role is to take on financial statement line items to audit to ensure no material misstatement has occurred.

I have learnt professional scepticism which is a critical skill for any auditor, this is where we maintain our objectivity and independence, one example would be by questioning and challenging the client when contradictory evidence has been found, and resolving this difference. Another example is when representations made by the client do not match with audit work and the reason for this needs to be found as it could be a material misstatement or it could be an error by the client in their representations which may make other risks appear which were not previously thought about.

The flying start problem which is done by PwC and several universities is an amazing course if you want to do accounting as it fast tracks your career and your progress for the ACA qualification with the ICAEW. Therefore I would highly recommend this course for any people who want a career in the accounting industry.

The programme works extremely well around university and placement, it is a course that requires a lot of effort but this effort is rewarded by a degree, progress towards your ACA qualification and during your placement you are paid monthly, and any overtime worked is paid at pro rata. I feel like this course also rewards you as you still have summer holidays, unfortunately other university holidays are slightly shorter than normal university students but this reflects how much work needs to be performed.

PwC and university continue to provide support by calls with your line manager and monthly calls with university. They have wellbeing guidance and help that can be received if people seek such need. PwC while better than most employers around wellbeing and support as most employers I believe they could do more with pay and benefits to employees and a few other services that they could provide.

University do monthly calls for wellbeing check ups, if any issues are raised at these calls then they have tools they can use to try and resolve problems however during my placements no big issues have come up that I have needed to raise and therefore I cannot detail the support they can offer.

The ACA qualification covers all areas in accounting from auditing to tax and financial/ management accounting. There are designated modules for auditing which is the work performed during placement. The placements and this module really help the theory and practise to come together and be understood nicely. Something I do not believe would be the case if they were not combined.

During busy period there are some social events such as bowling club which is monthly however these are more limited during this period, however once out of this period the office has a lively social colander and sporting events such as cricket in the summer and badminton as well as any other events that individuals in the office want to set up.

Yes

This company really helps to progress you as an individual looking for a career in accounting, they try and help keep the welling and staff high, they offer relatively good pay and benefits (especially once qualified), however in places like london the hours can be long during placement and the course does require hard work to pass some of the ACA exam, however if accounting is your future career I would highly recommend.

To look at the PwC professional for the assessment day for universities this will be assessed during this day and could be the difference between passing and failing the assessment day. There were only 3 universities that offered the course when I started in 2019 however around 5/6 universities offer this course now. Therefore people have a greater regional choice but I would say is important and something I did not necessary have but would have loved when applying.