Flying Start Degree programme - FS2 @ Watford Review
at PwC
Degree Apprenticeship
Audit
Reading
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
3.9 /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
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
3.4/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
My role as an auditor & junior member of the team consists of mainly transactional testing for each FSLI. Selecting samples or developing an approach to test a certain balance & then documenting the findings while investigating the exceptions you find.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy the fact that we get paid for the 3-4 months that we are on placement while also gaining audit experience throughout the programme. We also get to enjoy university life when we go back to university which is beneficial as we get the best of both worlds.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have definitely developed my confidence when speaking to not only more senior members of my team, but also senior members of the client about accounting treatments & audit procedures.
I have also learnt lots about time management and ensuring that I communicate the progress on my areas in good time to meet deadlines.
I have also learnt lots about time management and ensuring that I communicate the progress on my areas in good time to meet deadlines.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
My programme is very well structured. In Reading, we get 3 months of tuition, followed by 3 months of placement and then 2 months to revise & sit exams. This gives us enough time to adequately revise for the exams which you definitely need the time to be ready for.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
2/5
We receive support from the course representative @ PwC. Day-to-day not too much however when important dates or information need to be shared, we receive these in good time.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
As our course is managed and taught by the lecturers, we get little support from the ICAEW. However, our lecturers are of very good quality and they are all wanting the best for us. We get lots of support from the lecturers!
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
My role is made easier by sitting the exams as you are more aware of the context behind why you do what you do. For instance, we sit tax, accounting, business & assurance exams over the course of my degree which provide us with the core knowledge to fully understand how auditing functions & how to account for certain transactions appropriately.
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
There are very little sports activities. However, there are often social activities at the Watford office around the times of celebration ie. Christmas, Eid, Chinese New Year.
The office in general is a close community where everyone knows everyone so there is lots of socialising going on throughout the work day.
The office in general is a close community where everyone knows everyone so there is lots of socialising going on throughout the work day.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend PwC to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It is a good company to get qualified with as they provide all of the support. The people at PwC make the experience enjoyable especially as a young person as the office is relatively young in itself so you make a good set of friends too.
You are also progressively given more responsibility & experiences as you gain more experience yourself which means it is easy to see room for progression.
You are also progressively given more responsibility & experiences as you gain more experience yourself which means it is easy to see room for progression.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to PwC?
Be knowledgeable about the business and think how you can identify with the core values of PwC. If you can clearly display how you align with PwC, then whoever is interviewing you will clearly be able to identify if you would suit the company or not.
Being a team player is far more important than dominating any one conversation. If you are tasked with a group interview/exercise then ensure you are listening to others, encouraging others & also giving your own opinions!
Being a team player is far more important than dominating any one conversation. If you are tasked with a group interview/exercise then ensure you are listening to others, encouraging others & also giving your own opinions!
