Flying Start 2 Review
at PwC
Degree Apprenticeship
Accounting
Birmingham
Review Submitted: December 2020
Overall Rating
3.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
Liasing with the client over Connect system
Obtaining a balance for an FSLI
Getting full coverage of the balance and splitting it up into a population to perform testing on
Obtaining audit evidence from the client
Documenting this evidence on PwC's Aura system
Performing testing over the audit evidence and ensuring no exceptions are noted
Liaising with wider business unit teams
Sending emails and having daily catch ups with my seniors about work performed
Obtaining a balance for an FSLI
Getting full coverage of the balance and splitting it up into a population to perform testing on
Obtaining audit evidence from the client
Documenting this evidence on PwC's Aura system
Performing testing over the audit evidence and ensuring no exceptions are noted
Liaising with wider business unit teams
Sending emails and having daily catch ups with my seniors about work performed
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I thoroughly enjoyed this placement as I was kept extremely busy and was given fantastic audit areas to work on which I can refer to in the future.
The support I had from my team was terrific also, whenever I asked a question in a timely manner they were always on hand to respond to my queries
The culture that was created by my team made the working environment an enjoyable one to work in
The support I had from my team was terrific also, whenever I asked a question in a timely manner they were always on hand to respond to my queries
The culture that was created by my team made the working environment an enjoyable one to work in
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Excel skills have been developed such as the regular use of vlookups and split cell formulas
working on new audit areas and in a new team has allowed me to perform different types of audit testing that I had no prior experience of working over
Learning to use google form and the response sheets
creating various graphs and trackers
developed my communication skills when speaking in catch ups or in the bi- weekly huddle meetings
working on new audit areas and in a new team has allowed me to perform different types of audit testing that I had no prior experience of working over
Learning to use google form and the response sheets
creating various graphs and trackers
developed my communication skills when speaking in catch ups or in the bi- weekly huddle meetings
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Everyone within the company is assigned a career coach and especially at such a junior grade I find this extremely helpful. Monthly catch ups allow me to communicate any issues.
We have one weeks block worth of training at the start of placement which is useful however to consume a vast amount of information in such a short space of time is tricky especially considering our last placement ended 9 months ago.
Having said that audit is definitely a learn on the job and support is always available from your seniors should you not understand anything
We have one weeks block worth of training at the start of placement which is useful however to consume a vast amount of information in such a short space of time is tricky especially considering our last placement ended 9 months ago.
Having said that audit is definitely a learn on the job and support is always available from your seniors should you not understand anything
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My senior associate and manager are always happy to help and support me with feedback on work I produce
as mentioned earlier the career coach scheme is fantastic and the catch ups are not limited to monthly
if there was ever an issue i would feel comfortable going to the career coach
everyone understands i am junior and have less experience than most so the attitude towards supporting me is fantastic
guidance with problems is also good as it allows me to learn and not make the same mistake twice when i am supported well
as mentioned earlier the career coach scheme is fantastic and the catch ups are not limited to monthly
if there was ever an issue i would feel comfortable going to the career coach
everyone understands i am junior and have less experience than most so the attitude towards supporting me is fantastic
guidance with problems is also good as it allows me to learn and not make the same mistake twice when i am supported well
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
There is always the option to talk to our tutors if they wish to have a catch up, as well as them marking our essays to give us comments which has been useful this placement
They are probably only suited to support us when we feel we cant contact anyone in the firm about our problems and I feel this would be a very rare scenario.
once we are back at uni they will support us during usual lectures and seminars
They are probably only suited to support us when we feel we cant contact anyone in the firm about our problems and I feel this would be a very rare scenario.
once we are back at uni they will support us during usual lectures and seminars
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
I'm not sure it does, going into my final placement all I've had is 2 3 month placement blocks compared to others at the firm who are at the same grade as me who will have been there the whole year
having been through the experience I do honestly wonder if a whole placement year out would be better
logistically the current structure causes so much hassle in terms of accomodation with very little support
having been through the experience I do honestly wonder if a whole placement year out would be better
logistically the current structure causes so much hassle in terms of accomodation with very little support
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
given the current pandemic there was limited opportunities
nevertheless I thought the social team did a great job
activities included the weekly score predictor
the among us social was very topical as well given the popularity of the new game
for the xmas social this was done over zoom in which we enjoyed a performance from an illusionist as well as fun festive sporcle weekly quizzes and a christmas quiz
there were also yoga and hit classes to participate in
nevertheless I thought the social team did a great job
activities included the weekly score predictor
the among us social was very topical as well given the popularity of the new game
for the xmas social this was done over zoom in which we enjoyed a performance from an illusionist as well as fun festive sporcle weekly quizzes and a christmas quiz
there were also yoga and hit classes to participate in
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend PwC to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Fantastic company full of fantastic people.
Support is amazing, the social opportunities are amazing also
great way to meet new people
always the opportunity for promotion
the diverse range of people if amazing
big 4 company means it is very well respected
opportunity to work on some fantastic clients
set up a career
option to transfer departments
can complete your acca and become a full qualified apartment
exams are all paid for and integrated into working
Support is amazing, the social opportunities are amazing also
great way to meet new people
always the opportunity for promotion
the diverse range of people if amazing
big 4 company means it is very well respected
opportunity to work on some fantastic clients
set up a career
option to transfer departments
can complete your acca and become a full qualified apartment
exams are all paid for and integrated into working
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to PwC?
For applications to the flying start scheme there is an assessment centre in which there is a group size as well as a team activity
Ensure you prepare well and research the questions you are told to answer
be vocal within the team activity but not too overpowering
try to showcase your wide range of skills as much as you can
Onboarding is very straightforward, the team at PwC are extremely helpful and answer all queries
Ensure you prepare well and research the questions you are told to answer
be vocal within the team activity but not too overpowering
try to showcase your wide range of skills as much as you can
Onboarding is very straightforward, the team at PwC are extremely helpful and answer all queries
