Assurance Associate 1 Review

I loved my placement, being surrounded by intelligent hard working people really brought the best out of me. The balance between accounting college and assurance work, meant that part of my placement was still like university except being paid to study !

In my office i felt an integral part of a team, it was clear from the start that I would get lots of responsibility to complete set tasks , the best part was the one on one coaching I received from other members of the team. I worked in a smaller office so there was definitely a family feel to the environment.

The one on one coaching whilst on the job, plus an extensive personal envelopment focus and the fact that PwC pay for your charted accountancy exams and tuition. Is a world class way of learning business. I came from a science background and new very little about accounting. Colleagues of mine who did read accounting at university, tell me I have walked away with at least 1st and 2nd year combined knowledge of an accountancy degree after placement, that knowledge should help set me up for a career in finance.

Very Busy this placement is not for the faint hearted. However you do get plenty of perks like staying in hotels, competitive salary and lots of time off to study. If you enjoy studying and learning something new then this is often a welcome respite from busy days at work. However if you don't like studying then this would not be the right placement for you.

You are responsible for your task, and part of an engagement however it is only as you progress through your placement you are given more and more responsibility. I believe PwC does get the balance right giving you responsibility when you are both management ready and technically able.

The self managed learning, and time management skills to both complete accountancy exams and work full time , has given me a new perspective on how much work i can get done in a day. I will definitely be taking a more efficient and productive routine into my final year studies.

If you are interested in finance then the work was fun to do. The accountancy exams that you sit , also help to create a uni like atmosphere. So you can have lots of fun learning with a smaller group of fellow starting graduates and placement students. At the same time going to client sight and using the things you have learned is an enjoyable way of seeing that what your learning is actually really useful and makes a business money. I found this practical application of my knowledge as a charge service , very satisfying.

Lots of training , plenty of college and a people manager who helps you settle in, provided ample guidance of what i was there to do. The informal buddy system also gave me a less professional person to turn to for any less official problems and more casual advice on what the work culture was like.

PwC invest massively in there grads and placement students, paying for hotel stays whilst studying, the tuition and exams of the ACA. There is also lots of internal training and learning on the job through coaching amongst the engagement team.

If you complete your placement and gain a satifactory performance review, combined that you pass all your ACA accountancy exams. PwC is likely to reward such hard work.

As you join with a year group of similar minded individuals, the social scene is good. When you have the time between long shifts and studying, you will rely on your PwC intake year for entertainment and support. The annual dinner and Christmas party are always good official socials, and i had a lot of fun at both these events.

I worked in Plymouth , so the cost of living was very low compared to my salary, this meant that i could live a comfortable live style.

Plymouth has a beautiful marina which would be could for more classy affairs. However being a student town, there was plenty of partying going on in the student areas and bars.

It was left up to you to pursue any hobbies outside of work, however this was admittedly difficult as you are required to travel as assurance provider. Working weeks would also vary in terms of hours required to get the job done. I found going to the gym and running easy to fit in, as these things can be done at any time of the day.