Audit Intern/Trainee Review

My role is an associate who is involved in assisting and documenting the testing of an entity's controls as well as performing substantive testing related to multiple different financial statement line items of an entity such as cash, accounts receivable, accruals, property,plant and equipment etc. This can be done on 1 client during the placement period or along multiple clients allowing us to work with a broad range of different industries.

I have developed multiple existing skills related to communication, time-management, teamwork and professional acumen. I have been able to actively engage with different personnel both internally and externally from the most senior to the least senior to meet deadlines and put audit knowledge taught during my academic studies into practise.

I enjoy the programme as I am able to experience both the university experience as well as paid placements to build professional and business relationships as well gain on the job experience at a top 4 accounting firm. During the university semester, we undertake both internal university exams as well as ICAEW accredited modules that take us closer to being ACA qualified at the end of the course. Though it can be challenging, the reward of having 12/15 exams completed at the end of the degree provides us the motivation to keep pushing to ultimately take us to being fully qualified at the earliest age of 23/24.

It is well organised with 1 semester fully dedicated to placement and allowing you to fully experience worklife and 1 semester dedicated to studying and undertaking exams. Resources offered include both the university as well as ICAEW study manuals and question banks allowing us to fully prepare for bi-annual exams.

From the 1st week of placement to the end, there is no expectation for you to know anything. All members of the engagement team encourage you to ask questions no matter how many. Each flying start undergoes 1-2 weeks of training to provide a base of knowledge to build on throughout the placements

You receive support through lectures, seminars and internal materials provided by the university as well as support from ICAEW in the form of content through study manuals as well as exam-style questions helping you to fully prepare for the exam. In addition to this, marks schemes and examiner comments provide in-depth answers and feedback on how previous cohorts to allow you to fully understand where students have gone wrong in the past and how you as a student can overcome common errors to meet the pass mark.

It allows us to put into practise content learned in the Assurance (certificate level module) as well as Audit and Assurance (professional level module) through working with a variety of clients and engagement teams. It also allows you to build professional skills such as communication, time management and teamwork through adapting to different styles of working.

There are multiple networks and social activities that occur within PwC and the Flying Start cohorts. This can range from weekly activities to monthly and seasonal socials such as sport sessions, team lunches, religious celebrations and activities etc. This provides multiple opportunities to network with different people of all levels across multiple lines of service.

Yes

PwC provide everything from both a working aspect as well as a social aspect. They offer flexible hours as well as continuous support and training to allow you to fully develop new and existing skills. Socially, there are multiple opportunities to get involved and network as well as form new relationships. There is a massive emphasis on mental health and wellbeing with encouragement to take multiple breaks as well as support for how to ensure you maintain a healthy work-life balance.

In the recruitment process, demonstrate how you are as a person. Be honest and open through demonstrating your strengths but also embracing your weaknesses. PwC do not look for the ideal candidate in all departments but instead look for an individual who has the potential to grow and develop. In interviews and group assessments, demonstrate that you are able to work within groups as well as time-manage effectively but also communicate well.