Associate Review

Audit financial statements of companies in various industries such as defence, manufacturing, and consumer goods. Daily tasks include checking bank reconciliations, stock counts, matching invoices to detailed listings, testing controls at clients over areas such as cash, inventory, accounts payable, and accounts receivable. Responsible for your own work most of the time.

Have improved my attention to detail as I was regularly dealing with large numbers (millions) and had to ensure that my work was accurate. Also, developed teamwork and communication skills as I was regularly working in different teams and with different clients. Also, worked towards becoming an ICAEW ACA Chartered Accountant.

I think that the work is enjoyable in parts, although this is more due to the people I was working with rather than the work itself. The company culture encourages regular feedback from senior team members and I found this very useful. They also have an internal rewards system for staff to recognise good performance.

I felt valued by PwC as they give you a career coach and I had regular scheduled meetings with him throughout my placement. Furthermore, there is an internal recognition system that rewards you with digital shopping vouchers. Also, some clients recognise the value that you add to their business with your work.

The placement is part of a degree program offering by Reading University. It has been running for a number of years now so is relatively well organised. PwC also provides you with accommodation if you are not living at home while working on the placement. This is generally nice and modern.

Training provider (Reading University) keeps in touch with us throughout the placement and also provides a contact point if we feel that we have a problem that can't be addressed internally within PwC. Also, their general attitude towards supporting us is that they want us to enjoy our placement and have the best work experience possible.

Receive a good amount of support through regular meetings with a career coach throughout the placement and also from e-learning courses that are completed at the start of each placement. We also receive training before each placement that is provided by employees who were former students on the course. This is very useful.

PwC provides accommodation as part of the programme if you are not living from home while working on the placement; this covers rent and utility bills. Additionally, the monthly salary of around £1,600 comfortably covers expenses for essentials and disposable (i.e. Christmas shopping) and you are paid all travel expenses.

There are regular social events held outside of work such as Friday office drinks on a monthly basis, and a monthly social such as bowling or escape rooms. There are also a number of sports clubs, including a weekly 5-a-side football team for boys and a weekly netball team for girls.

Yes

Overall, the placement is enjoyable due to a combination of the work and colleagues. Also, it is a very strong brand and the training provided is of a very high standard. They also help you to become a chartered accountant which opens doors to a range of future careers in finance.

You should emphasis your previous teamwork and communication experiences in addition to showing how you have positively improved something; this could be in a university project or volunteering. Furthermore, you should look up the key attributes they want on the PwC careers website and speak to other people who have previously worked there.