I am a Persoanl Assistant to a Partner, 2 Directors 3 Senior Managers, HR Manager and assist HR and Tax Team
I really enjoy my role at PwC as it is varied due to the fact I look after Partners/directors from different lines of service this incorporates me being involved in many aspects of the business, from designing client proposals to assisting with the HR processes such as Pay review,staff moderation and onboarding procedures of new staff. I am a coach to the other secretaries bringing then up to speed with word, formatting and branding documents and I feel a very valued member of staff. I enjoy working as a team to get things completed accurately and on a timely basis.
My day to day role varies considerable I am at present the P.A. to the People Partner, The Assurance Director, The Tax Director and three additional senior managers and the HR Manager including administrative and secretarial duties for the HR team and the Tax team.
This includes providing proactive diary management, with complete control of the Partner/Directors and the three managers diaries on a day to day basis, organising travel and hotels both domestic and international, including detailed itineraries when appropriate. I arrange meetings and conference calls including inviting attendees, booking rooms and catering as necessary. I enter their timesheets and expenses on a weekly basis, producing WIP reports for the Tax team on request, I assist with producing client bills and cover letters to send out to the client, and I produce the Tax Letter of Engagements. I also assist with with client powerpoin
ProsThe people I work with is a plus as they are a great team and its always a joy to come to work.
ConsThe benefit package is not great only Managers and above get bonuses and no health cover
1.0
Market Researcher | Belfast | 24 Jan 2020
Insecure, stressful environment
It seems that whoever is in charge of procuring clients for PwC's market research division is unable to do so effectively. For this reason, you can be sent home with no notice at any time despite doing a good job. A recent project finished in December and workers were told to be available for a new one in Mid-January, this new project has now been pushed back with no new start date and January is looking very unlikely. Communication is terrible. Often workers will have to email or call several times and still not receive a straight answer regarding their shifts or status with PwC. Workers are breadcrumbed by management, told that something will be starting 'soon' so that they will stay with PwC. Workers are not valued because we are temps and it's perceived that there will always be temp workers available, so loyalty is not rewarded. Similarly, productivity is not rewarded. When workers do a good job on a project, delivering it within budget and ahead of time, their reward is to be sent home. Meaning that by working effectively, you are essentially putting yourself out of work! Some workplaces offer their staff bonuses for good performance, or perhaps some free pizza or just a well done, but not PwC. Unlike other departments at PwC, this role is minimum wage and when there is no project on workers are not paid. It's not clear why this department of PwC is managed so differently from others. Management does not take constructive feedback well, often taking it personally and ov
1.0
Collections | Southampton | 7 Aug 2018
Easily the worst collections department I have ever worked in
I worked at the Southampton Office in the collections team, taken on a ‘Temp-Perm’ contract. Friends in the sector had warned me about the collections department at PWC and said how ruthless it is - but I thought it couldn’t be that bad. The week I started I was given ‘training’ by a permanent member of staff who did very little other than look on Facebook all day. Temporary or temp - perm members of staff was treated terribly. I had to take my laptop home to work on the collections I hadent managed to get through in the day but despite being with an agency - PwC expected you to do the extra time for free! I raised a concern about invoices not being received by alot of clients but was shot down by one of the team leaders and the collections manager and told it was my fault for not asking the client why the invoice hadent be received! There was a ‘Cull’ of temp staff monthly where out of the blue on a Friday afternoon they were taken out of the office one by one and told not to come back on Monday.. They deceived temp - perm staff into thinking there was a job vacancy after you finished your temp contract when in fact they get rid of you before you have any rights as an employee. At one point a gentleman took a day off holiday and was called and told not to come back - they wouldnt give him a reason why so he came to the office and sat in reception and said he wouldnt move until someone explained to him what their reasons for getting rid of him were - but the collectio
ProsBlue chip company on your CV
ConsBad management, bad ethics, bullying and bad pay
2.0
Audit Manager | England | 1 Nov 2018
Varied work but in a negative, blame culture
PwC offers a huge variety of work which means you learn a lot and get to work with interesting clients. The high pressure environment means you get take on more responsibility than in other environments e.g. presenting proposals to boards and attending audit committees. There are good social events and the offices are nice.
Unfortunately, these positive aspects are let down by the culture at PwC. Management only cares about winning new work or sending people on secondment so that they will get the large fees. Management are not interested in listening to staff requests for personal development.
As soon as anything goes wrong, management look to blame those below them. The blame culture rewards managers who manage to shift blame rather than those who honestly reflect on what everyone could have done better. This culture makes everything your responsibility so if there is a problem, it is up to you to show PwC that you can sort it out without any help. If you are given extra tasks to do, it is your responsibility to work to midnight to get them done. If you ask for help, management will just say it is up to you to sort it.
PwC dangles the hope of promotions in front of people to get them to work harder and say yes to all requests (travelling at short notice). They say they are open and that the best people will get promoted but at the end of the day it all comes to business cases/ wishes of the partners and not the best candidates.
Pwc is below the market in term
ProsNice offices, interesting young staff who are motivated, variety of clients, opportunities
ConsAny care for people is trumped by PwC's bottom line, negative culture which rewards managers who blame more junior staff, long hours, travelling at short notice, low pay for industry
3.0
Retail Sales Associate II | Belfast | 24 Feb 2018
Augment - Graduate Revolving Door
Although still a young business, PwC Augment is growing extremely quickly. However, this does not necessarily translate into the fantastic opportunities the recruitment process will lead you to believe. Entry level staff is made up of recent graduates from courses that are traditionally difficult to find work (E.g. Geography, Psychology). Staff retention rates are extremely poor. Within 12 months of starting, many of the "experienced" staff had left for better paid jobs elsewhere. Opportunity for career and personal development is teased but it is almost impossible to get time away from a project to fulfill any of these.
Staff are frequently reminded that, although similar jobs are better paid elsewhere, nowhere can offer the "brand recognition" of PwC. This is to say that future employers will recognise the value of having spent time working with such a large firm. This is ironic, as Augment is frequently made to feel separate from the rest of the firm. Many of the firm's benefits are open to all staff, except Augment, and when attempting to move to another department in the firm, Augment staff are treated as external hires.
Perhaps the biggest flaw I found in my particular project was constant change. Policy and process changes on a near daily basis to the point that taking one or two days off on leave can result in you spending the rest of the week catching up.
Workloads are not balanced whatsoever, and the best performing teams often end up picking up slack. Th
ProsGood entry level position in Financial Services
ConsLack of recognition, Relatively poor pay scale, Lack of upward mobility leads to constantly changing staff
2.0
Senior Manager | London | 24 Oct 2016
Good company to get accounting experience
As a fresh graduate the company (firm) is supportive in giving and maintaining a healthy and safe work environment, and providing plenty of support when working towards a professional qualification, as in my case the ACA.
The hours, however, are long, (especially at the Senior Associate / Management level) - after 4-5 years of experience, and for the same (or fewer) hours you can work elsewhere for a lot more, and with less travel.
My department was one of the larger ones within the firm, and (is often the case with very large departments) guilty of bureaucracy and often, unsympathetic, and (worse still) in-fighting, politics, and generally what you perceive as bad management particularly at the senior management / director level. This is typical of rigidly hierarchical departments.
I think the quality of their internal training was sometimes haughty, and patronizing.
I think there were also quite a few, particularly those who hadn't worked with other organizations before, who behaved arrogantly and were over confident - (but they do work hard)!
Its not the same across the firm - the development of individuals will tend to be faster in smaller departments, where you will get more individualized attention, provided the culture is right and you're working with senior (and so more experienced people)
Their size however means, you do get access and to work for high profile clients
ProsGreat when a graduate. Decent benefits. High profile clients
ConsPoor internal training (you're better off looking externally), long hours, and bureaucratic (if you end up in a large department)
5.0
Change Manager | London | 1 Aug 2020
Productive, Fast paced, Challenging, Fun Learning
I worked with PwC Global Information team during a Change Transformation and Transition Project.
Global Information Leadership team is full of great leaders and managers who encourage, support everyone to succeed in their role.
It was a steep learning curve encompassing daily tasks as per the job description and way beyond with the ongoing team changes, multiple resignations, recruitment, interviews to taking/providing hand overs to securely managing global client data during business operating systems changes, an office move, multiple projects requiring fast and accurate decisions during multiple conflicting priorities and deadlines.
Challenging yet fast paced leaning environment requiring successfully fire fighting with global virtual and on site team members to deliver the required results.
I loved every minute of working with PwC.
It was my grand father's dream for me to join one of the Big4, and after working with PwC In-House teams, I have a new founded respect for all of their past, present and future team member's hard work in supporting clients successfully regardless of internal or external obstacles.
Great Team members, Fantastic work ethics, 100% job satisfaction, supportive management and certainly an Employer of Choice.
I would not think twice to re-join PwC if or when an opportunity comes along.
ProsFree fruits and hot, cold drinks
ConsLong hours during projects/period end reporting etc.
1.0
Forensic Investigator | Birmingham | 7 Oct 2019
Awful company
I went through the rigorous (and highly stressful) interview process starting in November 2018, got the job eventually in February 2019. Had to wait until September 2019 for the job to start. I was told the week before that I needed to be in London for my first week. Told the Wednesday of my first week that my second week would be in London as well. Told the Friday of my second week that my third week would be in Leeds, then I was needed in Belfast... I applied to work in Birmingham.
No where in the job ad did they highlight this as a requirement. The contract says "you may be required to work at other PwC offices from time to time", and that's all it mentions about travel.
I flagged up my issue with this, as I don't wish to travel, and for anxiety reasons, can't. It took them two weeks to get back to me, where they told me I either had to suck it up and do all the worldwide travel they expected of me or resign. I resigned.
Overall, an awful experience with an awful firm who pretends to be inclusive and caring. The truth of it is, if you're not willing to devote your life 24/7 to the company, then it's not the job for you. They also give you a laptop and a phone in your first week, just to make sure you can always work and be contactable, no matter where you are or what time it is.
ProsGood pay
ConsLong hours, living out of a suitcase, no overtime pay (until you work more than 20 extra hours a month), non existing help/willingness to negotiate for mental health
4.0
Client Services | London | 8 Jul 2014
An insight into my current role
A typical work day can be anything from working on a multi-million pound proposal, to researching the latest Insurance news and developments for my account members, to meeting with key client contacts. No 2 days are the same, and there are always new ideas that can be brought to the table to enable the accounts I work on to run more efficiently.
I have learnt a lot in my time at PwC. I have learnt that knowing your client is key - you have to anticipate what is round the corner for them, and how you can help as a team. I have also learnt that no matter how organised and well prepared you are, you are always met with some requests out of the blue! This definitely has enabled me to keep in close range with my colleagues and the client.
The hardest part of my job is when we lose pitches to our competitors, you always feel very protective about the accounts you work on and you want to see your fellow colleagues winning work and making a difference to the client. Though I find that when we do lose pitches, it can be an effective way of looking into why we lost – is there something that we could have done differently? There is always an opportunity to learn and evolve as an account.
The most enjoyable is seeing a colleague or a project really making a difference to the client. It is great to see colleagues having really long standing relationships with the client and working on real life changing projects.
5.0
Production Coordinator | London | 7 Aug 2013
At the time this was a very good firm to work for.
Many consultants and partners in your group demanding your time to do their work and always needing it yesterday.
I learnt many things at the firm, the meaning of Management Consultantcy, restructuring and many more of those terms that is used to confuse the ordinary public. Through Tour many staff training days to work as a team to provide a finished article which can win you a job. To be assertive without being rude. Many of the technological skills I have today, I learnt from the company.
I worked with some fantastic people who to this day still keep in touch with each other, support as well as consultants and partners. We all worked hard but always had time to help each other.
The hardest part of the job losing a job despite all the hard work, some other company pipped you to the job. After economic crash around 2000, which led to the company having to makemove in a different direction. Changed after merger and through restructing having to take voluntary redundancy.
Staff training days, the Socials at Christmas and the many social with my colleagues that we enjoyed. it was a very pleasant place to work. Having to work abroad on several ocassions with the company, thereby getting to know places that I probably would not have visited so soon.
ProsWorked hard but was rewarded. Balanced work and home life
ConsMerger
Questions and answers about PwC
What should you wear to an interview at PwC?
Asked 22 Apr 2017
Very smart suit, ironed.
Answered 13 Sep 2019
A suit; Jacket and a Skirt
Answered 18 Jul 2018
How are the working hours at PwC?
Asked 8 Apr 2017
It’s a 6 am start except Tuesday when’s it 4.45 am but you get the weekend off
Answered 9 Jun 2018
Hours normally range from 9.00am till 5.30pm. It is not unusual to see people working past these hours. However, I understand that there are now opportunities to work more flexibly in areas of the business.
Answered 17 Jan 2018
What is the paid holiday policy like at PwC? How many days do you get per year?
Asked 15 Dec 2018
Intern does not have paid holiday. However, you get to work from home if you are not feeling well and do not want to get MC.
Answered 9 Feb 2020
20 days per year
Answered 2 Jul 2019
What is the organisational culture at PwC?
Asked 1 Jul 2017
Horrible. Everyone is dispensable. Work life balance does not exist and the hours and effort count for very little
Answered 24 Jun 2018
Work hard if anyone is watching otherwise put your feet up chill out
Answered 10 Jun 2018
How did you feel about telling people you worked at PwC?
