Audit Associate Review

I am involved in the audit of financial statements - providing independent assurance as part of a team, whereby we request, inspect and review supporting documentation in the form of contracts, invoices, accounting entries in order to ensure that the financial statements and other information that a company presents to investors gives a true and fair view of their financial standing.

I have both learnt new skills as well as developed existing ones. The key skills which I have developed are communication, analytical skills, organisational skills and report writing. New skills that I have learnt include the analysis of financial information, business insight, ethical considerations, technical accounting, tax and legislation. Each of these will help me significantly progress in my career.

I am a big fan of the programme, especially the structure. It is quite challenging, but this is as expected. I am pushed to work hard and deliver high quality work, and support is provided by my peers on a constant basis. I have also had the opportunity to work alongside some very talented and motivated individuals.

The programme is well structured and organised. There are set pathways in order to complete exams, with study leave and college time in preparation. Most of this is around the client work, and so you are able to get a hands on experience of learning on the job and develop rapidly and sustainably.

My employer is highly supportive. I have been assigned a career coach to monitor my progress, help establish and work towards goals in preparation for performance reviews. It is clear what is expected of me, and I am expected and able to speak up when I feel strongly about something. Mental and physical wellbeing is promoted a lot.

I receive this support on a regular basis, whether it be through talent coaches or tutors at my training provider. My talent coach is helpful in guiding me towards tasks I need to complete in order to progress through the qualification, and tutors are always available for exam related guidance.

It is the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are instilled in me through the qualification that help me perform better in my role. Aside from giving me the technical knowledge to succeed, I am learning a lot more about businesses and can make recommendations to people of all levels of seniority after analysing different aspects of a business' financial and non-financial performance.

On a regular basis, various individuals and teams organise social events and team building avtivities. We also host professional networking events and get local businesses involved. There are also a lot of opportunities to volunteer for charities, and we are even allowed to book a certain number of days a year in order to volunteer for something we are passionate about.

Yes

It is the people that make the firm so special. It is a massive, global network of extremely bright individuals from all walks of life, and an experience that really helps a person grow on both a personal and professional level. Core values such as high quality work, through teamwork and collaboration are very important to the firm, and the firm is actively making a difference to people, businesses, communities and governments alike, worldwide, through advising on a number of pertinent world issues and finding solutions for the same.

I would advise people to be themselves. Find an area of interest, do your research, and simply apply! There is nothing to be lost in doing so. Everyone is encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. As long as you demonstrate curiosity, display an interest in what the firm offers and are determined to contribute to developing both the firm and yourselves, PwC could very well be the place for you.