Assurance Associate Review
at PwC
Degree Apprenticeship
Accounting
Nottingham
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
3.1 /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!
3/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
2.4/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
3/5
I'm part of teams that do statutory external audits for a variety of companies both private and public. Day to day this involves performing audit testing on their financial statements to ensure they provide accurate and reliable information, and it means a lot of client contact time and working on client site (not during covid though)
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
The programme is very challenging and so has improved my problem solving skills and resilience, especially during lockdown and the audit 'busy season' which has meant much longer hours of work. I have enjoyed working with a range of different people within PwC on a range of different clients across different sectors as well.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
As this is my 3rd placement, I have learned to take greater responsibility for my own work and help out less experienced members of the teams, meaning coaching of those members. My general IT skills including greater proficiency of excel and excel function, and have also improved along with my technical understanding of accounting and audit.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
Over the 4 years we do 3 placements with PwC while based in the same office through, and a complete a full year then 3 half years at university (in academia). At time I felt it would be better to just complete a full year in industry rather than a placement every year.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
5. Over my placement during lockdown, I have not felt the need to receive support, but there are support systems in place. Personal buddies (other employees) help monitor wellbeing occasionally and there a various other support teams such as the designated student well-being team that are meant to monitor the welfare of placement students.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
All our exams are completed at university. University lecturers offer a reasonable amount of support, but students have to be more proactive in reaching out with issues and queries, as is with a normal university experience. There is no additional support provided to us at all, but it is always there should be need it.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
Some university modules are directly related to work I perform in my role and are professionally accredited (count towards ACA qual) so they have helped to a significant degree. The general processes of self sustained learning within University has helped massively with coping with the large work load in my working role as well.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
There are some social groups to get involved in with PwC such as a couple of sports teams, and team socials but as my placement has occurred over lockdown there hasn't been much scope for participation. At university there are a whole host of different societies to take part in as well.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend PwC to a friend?
No
Why?
I have learned a lot from my placements however it has been very tough and long hours. Sometimes I don't feel like the value I bring is reflected in the various aspects such as compensation, although I recognise that the value of PwC is the experiences of working with a top range of clients and with teams who are experts are what they do.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to PwC?
Really think hard as to whether audit and assurance is for you. It is a really demanding field and for me I have had to sacrifice a lot of personal time in order to keep up with the workload. However I have built up great experiences which would be applicable to a lot of other jobs in different industries so there is great value in it too.
