Flying Start3 Review
at PwC
Degree Apprenticeship
Accounting
Reading RG1 3JH, UK
Review Submitted: March 2022
Overall Rating
5 /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!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
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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:
5/5
Completion of assigned EGAs. This requires obtaining relevant support from the client management and documenting on the audit file. For all audit evidence you are encouraged to challenge the quality of it and the authenticity. You will work as part of an audit team to gain comfort of the figures presented in a companies financial statements
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
The programme is good as it allows you to put into practice classroom learnt knowledge. It also shows how the knowledge learnt at university is used and put into practice in the real world. It gives a sense of purpose to the information that you are learning. The programme is also a nice balance between life as a university student and life as a young professional. It makes you realise how enjoyable the university days are before they are over.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Continued to develop key accounting and audit skills. The work placements provide you with an opportunity to put into practice technical knowledge picked up when completing the ACA exams. As each placement comes, the expectations of the work you will be able to complete increases. You are entrusted with new and more complex areas.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The programme is well structured and organised. The knowledge that is learnt at university is in line with the expectations that PwC have of you. At a local level, each PwC office has an office champion who is a key contact to go to with any concerns or queries. You also have an assigned career coach, which in my case is a former flying start who understands what you are going through and what to expect.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
You receive lots of support from PwC. There is a dedicated flying start HR team and at a local level you have career coaches, peers and all other staff. Your main contact is the career coach and they will provide help and guidance where needed for general queries. For job specific queries you will have senior team members and managers on the job
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
The university of reading understand that placement is a busy time and so university worked is scheduled to be completed before going on placement with revision in easter. There is no major requirement to continue revising whilst on placement and providing effort is put in over easter and in the run up to exams, no work needs to be done
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
The knowledge learnt at university is crucial to the work you do whilst on basis. It is good to have a good base understanding of key accounting concepts. Ultimately the ACA provides you with the knowledge that you need to do your job. However, whilst working on placement you will be provided with all the help and support you need.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There are several activities to get involved with at university and at PwC. Within the flying start cohort, we have monthly socials which are organised by flying start students. There are also debriefs and other activities involved with the teams on your jobs. At university there are several societies that you can join.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend PwC to a friend?
Yes
Why?
PwC are a good company to work for as demonstrated by the deal. The experience and learning at PwC sets you up for a good career either at PwC or elsewhere within finance. Not only this, the key skills you learn at PwC provide a good base for a career in most fields.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to PwC?
First of all, consider what you really want to do. PwC provide opportunities in several different areas and there is also the opportunity to work abroad. When applying, ensure you have researched the role you are applying to well. You are not expected to know everything but a base understanding of what the role entails is important.
