Flying Start Degree Programme - Flying Start 3, Bristol office Review

A trainee auditor training to be a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW. The role is varied in nature but often involves data entry tasks when you start out. On my third placement now we tend to look at more complex areas of the engagements and start to coach more junior staff members as we have a decent amount of experience and knowledge.

Yes - my interpersonal skills have improved markedly, especially with being back in the office post-Covid. I have learnt how to build effective business relationships and how to deal well with clients. I have learned greater excel skills as we use excel on a daily basis. In terms of the software we use to document our work, my proficiency with this has also increased.

I enjoy my programme for the large part. The mix of University coupled with working placements provides a nice balance. The pay from the placements also aids enjoyment of other aspects of your life. The academic side is potentially more challenging than most degrees which can prove difficult but overall I have enjoyed the experience.

I think sometimes the structure can be challenging as the University and Work worlds do not always blend seamlessly. The work part is normally structured well, however, we did have some issues with the structure of the University part. This was during Covid and so everyone had to adapt but perhaps the University did not adapt well enough.

The support from PwC when at PwC is very good. There is an amazing network of Flying Start and Ex-Flying Start students at PwC and this translates across offices which gives a nice sense of community. There is ample support both from peers and seniors and there is a positive culture of support within the organisation.

The training provider can be taken as the University or ICAEW. We have minimal interaction with ICAEW but the University does provide some support. Arguably, the support is lacking here in comparison to that which you receive at PwC so there is room for improvement here. Overall the support is moderate.

The qualification we train towards, the ACA, is a crucial part of the role a Chartered Accountant performs at PwC. It is utilised everyday at work and we come out of the degree programme with 12 of the 15 exemptions, meaning that we amass a large quantity of the qualification before joining full time.

There are a variety of activities at work. This includes regular socials, both with teams, offices and wider business units. These are a great opportunity to network. There are events such as Christmas and Summer Parties which are good fun. There are also sports teams for a variety of different sports which can be good for meeting new people.

Yes

PwC is a well-known organisation that can open a lot of doors for you. But beyond the name, the culture of PwC is moving away from that which was traditionally seen as the norm for the Big 4. There is a positive attitude towards work-life balance (where workload allows for it) and the pay is decent.

Be open and honest throughout the application process and when you join if you are successful. I have found that the organisation is a very understanding one on the whole and as such being upfront about any issues or ideas can benefit both yourself and your teams. Be yourself rather than who you think you should be as the organisation is open and understanding.