Name: Katie
Business Area: Corporate Finance
University: Liverpool John Moores
Degree: BSc Science (Physiology)
Why did I apply to PricewaterhouseCoopers?
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) is one
of the largest professional services firms
in the UK and has been voted as the top
graduate employer for a number of years. It is
a multinational company and I was attracted
by the opportunity to travel within the UK and
abroad whilst also getting a well respected
Chartered Accountant qualification.
My role within the firm
I joined the firm in Sept 2005 in financial
services assurance. As part of my 3 year
training contract, I have been involved in
working with some of the largest UK and
American banks and insurance companies.
My work included testing account balances,
understanding financial accounting systems
and holding meetings with the clients finance
team but as I progressed though my training
contract I became more involved in complex
and technical accounting issues, financial
instruments and advising my clients on
relevant disclosures and financial reporting.
Throughout my time at PwC I have worked
within a team, as you move form client to
client the team may change but the support
structure is always there. As you progress
through the firm you take on a more senior
role and can be responsible for managing
the team and the client - which is quite
challenging at times!!
What is the training and development like?
The training and development at PwC was
what attracted me to the firm in the first place,
it really is second to none. When you join as
a new graduate you join with a year group,
my intake was approximately 30 people and I
can honestly say that the people I joined with
have become some of my best friends.
When you first start you complete the
graduate induction training which basically
shows you how to do your job! Over the
period of 8 weeks the training introduces you
to PwC and how they operate and arms you
with all the basic expertise needed to tackle
your first client job. Once you start on client
work that's when the real learning starts. It
can be so challenging trying to understand (in
a relatively short period of time) how a large
financial institution operates and prepares its
financial accounts but the best thing is that
there is always someone on the team more
experienced than you to ask questions - until
you get to partner that is!
On joining the firm you are assigned a buddy
and a counselling manager, these people are
there to help make sure you get the most out
of your work experience in terms of personal
development. During the first three years
at the firm each graduate attends financial
training college to study for their chartered
accountants qualification. I won't lie and say
the exams are easy because they are not, but
the help and support you get from the tutors
is unbelievable and as you are there with your
intake group it is literally like being back at
university!
What challenges have I faced since joining?
My exam qualification was probably my
biggest recent challenge and it was such a
relief to qualify after 3 years of studying. To
know that I never have to do another exam for
the rest of my life was an amazing feeling!
Why do I enjoy it?
I enjoy it because my learning and
development hasn't stopped just because my
training contract has finished. In fact, although
I started in FS assurance I am currently on
secondment in corporate finance where I
am working on mergers and acquisitions,
debt refinancing and strategy advice. That
is the best thing about working in a big firm,
is that there is the opportunity to sample
different areas and different types of work so
realistically you should never get bored and if
you do it is ultimately in your power change
it and try something different within the firm.
The difference between the skills needed in
assurance and those required for corporate
finance has meant I have had to learn a great
deal over the past 6 months but as always in
PwC the support you receive helps you along
the way.
What is the best thing about working for
PwC?
The best thing about working at PwC is the
people you meet. The people you work with
are extremely intelligent but the social side
is really good. In the time I have been here
I have been on some extremely good awaydays
including raft building in the Lakes,
community events in Yorkshire, work socials
to Paris, Barcelona and Dublin, the annual
sports day and also a large number of parties,
meals and social events in Manchester where
I am based.
There is as little or as much of a social life at
work as you want but the great thing about
the socials is you meet some really amazing
people and make some great friends.
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