Audit intern/trainee Review

I was allocated to the Centre Of Excellence which specialises in the audit of tax, pensions and share-based payments. On a day to day basis I work within the team on a varied range of clients to test these line items and check for any material misstatements within the draft financial statements.

During my time at university I picked up technical knowledge and have been able to apply this while on placement. At PwC I have also developed professional and soft skills by communicating with colleagues and clients on a daily basis. I've learnt how to document highly judgemental areas and improved on using Microsoft excel.

This programme is definitely more challenging than the usual accounting and finance courses. However there is a lot of support available and the split between university and 4 months of placement makes it a lot more enjoyable. The experience you get from working at one of the Big 4 so early on is extremely valuable.

Very well organised. We spend most of the year at univeristy and the last 4 months (april-july) on placement. Whilst at university we study towards the ICAEW exams and build up our days of work experience while on placement, all to work towards the ACA qualification. Compared to other courses at university, this programme is highly structured and regulated e.g. can't choose any of your own modules to study.

There is lots of support available on placement at PwC. When you start, you are allocated a 'buddy' who is typically in the year above yourself at univeristy, i.e. and FS2 who are around to help with general questions. We also have a career coach who we have regular catch ups with in the office and are always happy to help with more formal concerns.

While studying we have access to all the university's lecturers and professors whenever we require additional support. There are also study materials that are provided by the ICAEW for the ACA exams that we sit. These materials are really detailed and extremely helpful when preparing for these tough exams.

I have personally found that not all of what you study at university is applicable to placement but quite a lot is. For example the knowledge from studying for the Tax Compliance and Principles of Tax exams has really helped with the base understanding needed to audit the tax FSLI.

PwC have regular social events. Some of these include bi-weekly team lunches at a nearby restaurant, exercise classes, charity walks and fundraising events etc. There are also quite a few networks you can join depending on your hobbies and interests (these are sort of like societies you join at university).

Yes

At a huge firm like PwC you get the opportunity to work on a huge range of clients from the get go. You are able to build your experience in auditing while at university as well as a potential job offer when you graduate. There is lots of opportunities to learn from your seniors and build your network.

Be aware of recent news stories especially within finance and business to demonstrate your awareness during interviews. Read about the job role and culture at PwC to ensure it will be a good fit for you. Prepare well for all stages of the recruitment process and be confident in your abilities.