Flying Start Degree programme FS2 - Reading Review

Most common daily tasks are performing test of detail for audit engagements. You communicate with senior team members on approach for testing and speak directly to clients asking for supporting evidence. You are encouraged to challenge approaches and the evidence provided by clients. Often, you are allocated whole FSLIs to perform testing over, as well as providing support to other more senior team members with their testing.

Before the start of placement you have certain e-learns to complete. These cover a wide range of areas such as using PwC systems, data protection and required job skills such as applying professional scepticism. They also provide training required to work on the audit of PCAOB clients. Challenging approaches over testing allows you to gain a greater understanding of audit and the purposes of the testing.

There is a variety of clients and no day is the same. Clients vary in size and industry. There are a variety of areas you can work on from planning, FSLI testing and completion procedures. Support and coaching is provided by job in-charges and senior team members, even with the placement being virtual there is always somebody to help. When working on engagements, the in-charge will arrange events such as 3 o'clock fun where we break for 30 minutes and do something fun. There are other well being sessions planned such as walk and talks to encourage the team to get out and away from the laptops. When working on big clients in big teams the wellbeing sessions are a welcome break.

Before starting placement we have an induction week of training. Further to this on the first two days of placement we have time to complete necessary e-learns, meet with resourcing to discuss client jobs and preferences. When working on clients you have a good support network, often a designated coach on the job, an in-charge and managers who are all available to help. Outside of this we have flying start champions within each office as contacts and flying start alumni group chats. As a result of working from home, daily catch ups on jobs have been scheduled and we also have the chance to ask questions in virtual audit rooms. Allocation of work is given based on complexity and your grade, however if you can show that you are capable, you can gain exposure to more complex areas.

We are all allocated a career coach. This is a go to contact, manager or senior manager, who can answer general questions about placement. If they do not know the answer they will always guide you to someone who can help. They are also responsible for your development. Your goals are set at the start of placement with your career coach approval and you send all job feedback to them. They can then point out areas in which you need to develop and the opportunities to do this. We also have managers on the jobs for any client specific questions, programme managers and university tutors who continue to support us through placement. Also we are introduced to resourcing personnel for queries over job allocation.

At university we have academic tutors as well as lecturers and modules convenors to help and answer questions. They can answer questions relating to certain modules, exam queries and provide general advice and support. Lecturers always make themselves available and reply promptly to emails. They do not always have the answers immediately but will always get back to you when they do.

All work at university helps whilst on placement, however a lot of learning is done whilst on placement and the job is very much learn as you work. Having a good base knowledge of accounting is helpful, which we have as a result of the exams and modules at university. Ultimately, the modules sat at university help to give you the basic understanding you need, but the main learning comes from on the job experience.

Pre covid, their were constant social events. This includes the end of busy season curry night for audit line of service and debriefs/feedback meetings after working on clients. This year debriefs have been held virtually due to Covid with each team member receiving up to £30 for food and drink to replace the fact we cannot meet up for a team meal. The curry night also went ahead with all people in audit invited.

Yes

PwC is a good place to begin and continue a career. The variety and size of clients gives you exposure to how each company's finance department operates and how this varies for SMEs and large conglomerates for example. There are opportunities to work across the UK and secondment across the world.

Have a good understanding of the PwC professional behaviours. Ensure you can explain how you embody those key behaviours and have examples to back it up. An interest in business and accounting is key, but most importantly commercial awareness. Being able to talk about companies in the recent news is important as it demonstrates your commercial awareness and it is something that interests you.