Audit Associate Review

My role at this company is to do external audit for clients, both listed, and unlisted. It relates to performing testing over various line items of financial statements, and auditing them thoroughly. Role also included frequent analysis of data, creating spreadsheets and testing templates, and a lot of client facing hours, to collect all required support from the client.

I have learnt a lot of excel skills, such as using shortcuts, Pivot tables, vlookups, sumifs, tables, charts, etc. Apart from this, we also picked up a lot of communication skills, within the company, and with clients and external stakeholders. Extensive usage of data, and identifying trends, and relationships, was a great skill to pick up as well. A lot of negotiation skills are picked particularly when handling difficult clients in situations.

I love my programme, not because of how it is structured, but because I get a University degree in accounting and business, I finish about 12/15 of my ICAEW A.C.A. exams, and also get about 11 months of work experience with PwC, in auditing and assurance. I also get to meet a lot of people, and enjoy a lot of perks of working with the firm, such as various engagement events.

Very well organised, as there is 3 months of lectures every academic year, 3 months of work placement, and 1 month of easter, Professional qualifications exams for a month, and then regular summer break, as how it is in Universities. We get full support for all of this, in terms of study material, lectures, exam revision, tips, etc.

The firm culture is based around mentoring and coaching, hence a lot of seniors, in each team per engagement, are expected to mentor and coach the junior most people. We are expected to seek out all help from our managers, seniors etc. We also have a career coach, who helps us do annual performance reviews, and any other admin tasks. We also get a lot of help from everyone at the firm, in terms of preferences of clients we would like to work with.

We get lectures at University of Reading, and a degree in Accounting and Business. We also get full support, through university, in terms of prepaid lecture materials, and study materials. We also get all provision of professional qualification exams, fully paid for. We can access support from programme directors, and all sorts of guidance whether academic or not. I love that we get so much support, as it really ensures a reduction on our mental stress.

Our professional qualification, of A.C.A, helps us to perform better in our role, because everything we study in it, from Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, and Financial management, is part of the role we perform. Everything we learn, is genuinely put into practise, and it saves a lot of time when we join, as we have a lot of knowledge about our roles and responsibilities.

A lot of events go on, we played cricket as a unit once, and there are food social , group socials , various societies such as Muslim societies, Hindu societies, Thanksgiving events, etc. I also engage in a lot of events and social, such as drink tasting social, Dinner social, etc, which is held virtually during COVID-19 times, but very enjoyable.

Yes

As this firm is not only a solid start to your career, but also helps a lot in terms of reducing your study costs, exam costs etc. Apart from that, the exposure to various clients, various people within the firm, really stands out from what you would receive elsewhere. This firm really values its people, and takes measures to make you feel included as well.

Please research PwC behaviours, and values thoroughly. Knowing what the firm does, and what it strives to achieve, is important to us. Also always try to practise your time management, communication, team building, data analysis skills, as these are used on a day to day basis at work. Assessment days have case studies, for which you can always prepare using the STAR Method, to aid your presentation skills. I would also encourage you to be your best self, always be honest, and try to communicate as much as possible, and acknowledge others as well.