Trainee Associate Review

I am responsible for preparing tax returns for a number of large corporations and facilitating their deliveries to HMRC. My day to day tasks include using our tax software to prepare computations, corresponding with clients and HMRC and performing any other required admin tasks for more senior staff in the office.

I have gained a comprehensive understanding of basic tax laws and practices and am in the process of learning about the finer points. The course has allowed me to develop my relationship skills further, giving me opportunities to work with a wide range of people, and challenges my analytical brain with interesting problems, often without simple solutions.

Due to a friendly team and welcoming company culture, I am enjoying my time at PwC greatly. The work is challenging, but not overly so, allowing me to exercise my problem solving skills. It met and exceeded my expectations and I would wholeheartedly recommend the program to anyone who was considering it.

When I joined we were provided with a week long induction program to learn about the firm and its values from current staff in our departments. Along the way we were also given a multitude of training courses to train us up on various aspects of our job and prepare us for our exams. These were all well organised and suitably timed, so we were able to train without severely disrupting client work.

There is a definite willingness to help from the staff of PwC. Upon joining I was assigned a buddy and a Career Coach to monitor my progress and help me with any issues I was having. Both proved to be invaluable as I inundated my buddy with questions about work I had been given and regularly went to my Career Coach for advice about progressing my career.

When revising for exams we are given days in college and/or self managed learning days at home. This enables me to ensure I am fully prepared for the exam. The tutors at college are both extremely knowledgeable and willing to help. There is also a comprehensive bank of revision on the Kaplan portal which is invaluable in my revision. There are a few inconsistencies and omissions in the provided study guide, but overall I'd rate the experience positive.

The exams we are studying for (CFAB/ACA) cover all aspects of accountancy and have already proven useful in the work I do. They help me to understand why certain processes are in place, where as before had just learnt the method and not why it worked. I have definitely found that when I return to work after study days I understand more of what I'm doing.

I am a member of the social club at PwC, who organise a social event every month at a local bar or pub. These events are a really great way to link up with people from other business areas in the firm and build closer relationships with your own team.

Yes

I think it's a really good place to kickstart a career in the tax world, with plenty of support provided when needed and a welcoming atmosphere. It is a well respected firm that provides plenty of opportunities to advance your career. The work is engaging and challenging and it's exciting to be able to work on tax returns for big name corporations.

I would say to make sure that you are prepared for the interview - it's always helpful to know a bit about the firm you are applying to. Having good people skills is a desirable quality so it's important to present your best self at the interview! The process is a long one, but if you make it to the end, it's definitely worth it.