Flying Start Placement 3 Student Review

I am studying the Accounting and Business course at University of Reading. As part of my course, I am undertaking short placements for 3-5 months at PwC, where I have worked in the audit department. My experience involves working with colleagues on audit engagements. As the placements are recurring, this provides me with the opportunity to build on my skills during each successive placement.

I gained an in-depth technical knowledge of how to audit a range of clients from different business models, including how technology is used during the course of the audit. I gained communication skills through team-working and discussions with clients. I gained organisation and punctuality skills, as I advanced, this also included coaching and delegating fellow colleagues.

I enjoyed working with my teams - everyone is open to collaboration and happy to coach and share their knowledge. I have gained experience in working to projects with tight deadlines, this requires lots of commitment; this is recognised by my teams and it is rewarding to complete these projects on time.

Work is well-organised overall - Flying Start students are fitted into the task plan of each audit engagement and colleagues are aware of our skills and develop their expectations accordingly. The central flying start team keep the course experience well-organised and each office has Flying Start champs who are available to answer our questions.

Company culture is good - everyone is friendly and you get to know your colleagues quite quickly. Team working is a big part of the company culture - everyone is happy to collaborate. The team culture is positive and rewarding. The office is diverse - there are lots of different backgrounds and this is recognised through office events, such as the Lunar New Year Lunch.

Yes. The course is structured so that if we pass our placement we receive a job offer upon graduation. By working through my placements, I have a good expectation of what the day-to-day job role of an audit associate involves. Through working at PwC, I have interacted with colleagues and partners across the firm - learning from my colleagues has influenced me over how I would like to develop in my career in the future.

Yes, as an audit associate I my base pay was paid monthly for my standard working week plus overtime for hours worked above my monthly threshold. Expenses such as travel to placement and travel to client site are reimbursed. There are also volunteering opportunities, such as around Easter, in order to get involved with helping the charities that PwC supports.

Yes, as mentioned earlier, I worked with colleagues across all grades at PwC. This includes opportunities to directly work with senior colleagues, managers and partners. PwC also provides opportunities to network across the office, events that I have attended include development days, lunches and quiz. We have quarterly peer group meals to socialise with colleagues in the same peer group and end-of audit meals after the end of audit engagements. PwC provides an allowance towards these.

Yes

As mentioned in my review, PwC is a good company to work for. You are provided with a solid foundation in audit. Your contribution to audit engagements is valued. There are consistent opportunities to learn new skills - both technical and interpersonal. You are encouraged to request and receive feedback and progress in your career at the firm.

I would encourage potential applicants form an early stage to visit insight events and research the Flying Start course and the different universities which offer it. I would advise them to get their applications in early. I advise applicants to be well-prepared for the interview stage by researching PwC and considering their future career plan and what they want to achieve from their placements at the firm.