Assurance Associate Review

Tasks performed varied from day to day depending on the client working on, this made the job more enjoyable as the work was varied and I was constantly working in different teams of colleagues.

The role of assurance associate is very much a team role, and as such each member of the team is equally important. I was always treated like any other member of staff and was doing exactly the same type of work as the graduate intake. The PwC social life also ensures that you get a chance to socialise and get to know colleagues in a less formal setting.

On each of my assignments I was working with people who were more experienced and qualified than myself. Different assignments means different managers but I always felt I was getting the support and guidance needed from the more senior members of the engagement team as well as the team manager. On top of this everyone is allocated a coach, who is a manager whose role it is to support you and be a first point of call for any problems or queries.

Obviously this depends on the clients you are booked on and the time of the year. Busy season for my department was Jan-Mar and that meant a few hours of overtime every week. At other times of the year, overtime was required less often, but usually as and when reporting date loomed. Throughout my placement I never felt I was trying to pass the time or sat twiddling my thumbs!

On my placement I was given the same amount of responsibility as the graduate intake that started at the same time as me. I was given my own sections of the assignment to complete, and these were then reviewed by more senior members of staff.

On my placement, time management and team work were two major components of the job. I feel that these definately helped me to stick to deadlines and work well on group presentations in my final year. I also gained a greater level of confidence from working with different teams.

Although my role meant I was rarely in the office, when I was there was generally a reasonably good atmosphere. This obviously depends on who else is in the office and how busy people are.

The placement scheme was relatively well set up, as it basically ran alongside the graduate scheme, and therefore PwC had invested heavily into ensuring it all ran smoothly.

As well as on the job training and initial induction programmes, whilst I was on my placement PwC paid for me to sit the forst 2 of my ICAEW exams, and I could use the time worked on my placement year towards my 3 year training contract with the ICAEW.

By the time I started back in my final year at uni, I had already accepted a job offer to start back the following September!

Whilst on placement, there was only one other placement student in my office. However, as we were taken on at the same time as the graduate intake and attending training courses together, there was a good social scene amongst all the "1st years".

Whilst on placement I lived in a student house outside of the city centre, with coursemates from university. Therefore this made living cheaper than if I lived near my office in the city centre.

Nightlife in Bristol is great - there is sonething for everyone!

PwC has several sports teams which are always actively encouraging new members to join.