Audit Associate Review

I am an associate in audit in Southampton PwC. I receive great coaching from people in positions above me and everyday I learn how to do new things. Audit is really interesting because you are surrounded by new people and a new environment every week or so. You get to build great relationships with the client and your colleagues.

I have passed 4 ACA exams and I have studied for a further 4 with the exams to be taken this year. I have done many internal training courses. My excel skills have improved immensely which makes me much more productive and efficient.

I enjoy it mostly. The organisation is a bit poor as well as communication. Things are arranged very last minute which doesn't always allow time for any preparation. Being at uni is great but I enjoy being on placement more.

It varies week to week. Sometimes I will have an in charge who is interested in developing my understanding and learning as they recognise it will help both me and other managers on other jobs. But sometimes I have had an incharge who just wants things done and has actually taken my work away and left me with nothing to do, as it is quicker for them to do it than explain it to me.

I think it would be better to have a full year placement rather than blocks of 3 months, as I have heard from older years that starting 2nd/3rd placement is like starting from the beginning again as you tend not to remember things from a year ago.

A decent amount of support. All the ICAEW books are provided to us but I definitely feel more contact hours are needed during uni term time. This is also not helped by lecturers striking and taking holidays in term time!

A fair amount of support. It varies week to week. Sometimes I will have an in charge who is interested in developing my understanding and learning as they recognise it will help both me and other managers on other jobs. But sometimes I have had an incharge who just wants things done and has actually taken my work away and left me with nothing to do, as it is quicker for them to do it than explain it to me.

My apartment costs are covered by PwC on top of the salary so that is good, I would not be able to afford it otherwise. Travel costs to clients are reimbursed so that is fine. The 18,000 a year salary is good and lets me pay for most things, however I do still have to pay rent in Reading and at home so this takes a significant portion of my income. I like the location of Southampton and it is good we got to put preference to which office we wanted. They also introduced being paid for overtime in Jan 2018 which is great.

I believe they do exist however as I am only here for 3 months a year I couldn't join any of the clubs and I didn't have much time outside of work.

Yes

Everyone is friendly and its a very welcoming atmosphere. Your learning is enhanced

Prepare well for the assessment days and prepare everything they tell you to.