Assurance associate Review

The work involved was highlighy challenging and very fast paced, although having to commit a lot of time to get to grips with the job, was incredibly rewarding when it all paid off.

PwC has a culture of giving real responcibility at the very start of your career, be it the managers recognising you of your hard work during the appriasals or be it the the help and coaching available from your fellow peers.

Coaching is widely available thorughout the firm, and you are never left alone in a situation with no one to ask. PwC encourage a culture of asking questions and being able to come to those with more experience than you for questions and queries you may have.

The workload is challenging, and it is a lot to manage. In order to complete it you will need to put in the extra work, but this will not be unrewarded.

Placement students are treated exactly the same as graduates, being included within the same induction/training groups and having the same level of expectations. Youa re also included within the same Professional qualification pathway, and cna complete 7 out of your 15 ACA exams during the year.

Being able to manage your time efficiently, and stay motivated in the face of adversity will be invaluable in the Final year of university. The large amount of client interaction has enabled me to be able to deal with people in a way to ensure that my requests are achieved as well as building relationships and trust.

During the busier periods, naturally people may feel slightly more stressed from the workload. However, the culture at PwC does not let this become the norm, and definitely not let it interefere with the fun and humourous atmosphere consistent within the firm. Ensuring that the work is complete, whilst ensuring eveyrone is happy and excited about doing their work.

The placement programme is incredibly well set up, and you are supported through each stage. From the day you join, you are allocated a buddy and a people manager, both of whom you cna go to for questions or quiries you may have. You are then coached through the work load that you are tasked with, as well as attending the professional exam colleges in preperation for the ACA exams.

The firm includes you within the professional qualification the same as the graduate intake. This involves you being able to complete 7 out of the 15 exams (based on whether you're doing ACA or ACCA), as well as the learning material and attending colleges.

The placement is less of an internship and more of the start of your career, being able to carry on the rest of your career with the firm would be an opportunity of a life time.

being part of the graduate intake, you make friends with everyone newly joining the firm. This means they're fresh out of university and not quite prepared to give up the social scene they were once used to, so theres always something going on. The offices will always have sports events that you can get involved in, as well as more seasonal/annual events like the christmas ball.

My placement being in Reading is naturally one of the more expensive parts of the UK, however the salary does take this in to account.

Reading is not renowned for it's clubbing scene, but there are some great places to eat and the local bars are good.

There's plently of social and sport events to get involved with, as well as charitable events such as runs/donatiosn etc.