Flying Start Degree programme - Associate Birmingham Review

My day to day role involves interacting with clients to provide a high class audit service. I perform audit activities such as inspecting and testing of the financial statements to ensure they are free from material misstatement. No day is the same and some days are remote from home while some days I spend days with clients at their site to get an understanding of the running of the company I am auditing.

I have learned many skills. These include communication, problem solving and leadership. On my final placement with PwC I have had more responsibility and this has enabled me to really develop my organisational skills as I have had to plan my days and weeks to ensure all my work is completed in a timely manner.

I enjoy my programme because it really has provided me with a flying start into the accounting industry. I have been able to use the skills and knowledge I have learned in each year at university and showcase this throughout my placement at PwC. Every day provides a new challenge and I enjoy this.

My programme is well organised in terms of the PwC placements as there is constant communication from the team at PwC both while working in the office and when I am at University. The time at university is structured and has a good balance between contact time and time with lecturers.

We receive a lot of support from our employer, we have a dedicated flying start champion who is always available to speak to and organises social events to make new connections within the business. We also have a team at PwC who liaise with university and provide support throughout the whole 4 year programme.

Our training provider is a mixture of ICAEW and The University Of Nottingham. This is well balanced and university are supportive through a challenging set of exams and qualifications. We have a tutor at university who we have monthly calls with to discuss results and our welfare while at university.

My performance in my role is definitely directly correlated to my work at university. All the work done at university can be used in my role at PwC and it is essential to take in the knowledge learned to be able to do the audit work in practise. When putting the knowledge into practise it makes it more clear.

Yes there are a varied range of activities to get involved in at PwC. There is a monthly social which is subsidised by PwC, there are social groups which organise paid meals to connect with people who you may not already know. The Flying Start cohort also have dedicated social events to meet other Flying Starts.

Yes

PwC is a supportive employer who have a wide range of support networks. The work is challenging and the hours can be long at some times of year but is rewarding. There is a good company culture and the people are friendly. The Flying Start programme is very well thought of by my colleagues and is a great opportunity to get a headstart into becoming a chartered accountant.

I would advise someone applying to PwC to be themselves in the interview process and talk about their experiences and qualifications in order to show that they are a well rounded individual and can flourish at PwC. It is crucial to show how you would bring value to the business and how your experiences can do this. Give lots of examples of things you have done in the past.