Assurance internship Review

The work involved in this programme was as I expected and as set out on the pwc website prior to joining. Essentially, as an assurance junior you need to learn how best to prepare for meetings, take notes, undertake basic reporting of financial statements, and attend meetings with client and pwc staff members.

The experience further developed my existing skills around working in new teams and to complete projects to time and to correct quality. However this experience applied this to a business setting, which was a new experience and certainly enhanced these skills that I already had to some extent. In terms of future career, I have learnt that I enjoy interacting with the clients and understanding their own business- - the particular risks, issues and matters specific to that client and industry.

I was given lots of responsibility - a lot more responsibility than I was expecting, as this was all new to me and i thought there would be more group aspects to the work but actually once you are informed of the task and what to do, you are typically left to your own devices to continue and produce what is needed, and can link in to ask questions if you need to All work is reviewed to check you are doing what you need to.

I was always told it is fine to ask questions and gain support, and repeatedly told that no question is ever too stupid and asking questions is encouraged. I have also been impressed by the guidance offered in terms of everyone's experience of college study and what is required to pass exams and become a qualifies chartered accountant, which is my long term goal. It is up to you to deliver but you are given help.

The atmosphere and culture if formal, but also it is very relaxed, aided greatly by the dress for you day policy where jeans and more casual clothing is perfectly acceptable - in this respect it feels similar to university. Where you have client meetings or say, are on site at a client for the first time, you need to dress accordingly. but often you mirror the dress code of the client. This is something that interested me as clothing and presentation impacts culture in my opinion!

I enjoyed this experience very much indeed because I had the opportunity to work and learn about different clients and industries, and learn about the other internal departments which helped me develop an understanding of the PwC openings and working areas. I was also given responsibility and more difficult tasks once my colleagues briefed me and felt I was competent to learn something new, and this responsibility was a big feature of my experience which I really enjoyed.

Yes

PWC is a really great place to work and has a lot of really friendly and helpful people there. I first learnt about the company in my first year and I subscribed across their social networks - facebook, twitter, and looked on linkedin and google to reinforce my understanding and prepare for interview. Having this knowledge really helped and I think, made me show my motivation and passion to join. This is something I now do for all companies I am interested in.