Advisory Risk Assurance Solutions Profiles

Senior Associate 1

In my second year of college I completed an internship which gave me a great deal of insight into the operation of the Advisory practice within PwC and also a better understanding of its culture and environment. Following that I was delighted to have been offered a graduate position in the RAS department and began my training contract in September 2010.

I have been very fortunate to have worked on a variety of projects since joining the Firm. I am part of the Systems and Process Assurance team which supports the assurance teams by testing the IT general controls of our client’s financial applications. However, I have also had the opportunity to work with other teams such as Data Services (DS), Third Party Assurance (TPA) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).

To help me I received area specific training which provided me with a strong knowledge base for each area and helped me to fulfil my role on every engagement. The training and development opportunities in PwC are fantastic. Initial Associate training is supplied, followed by on-the-job training throughout the year in addition to technical update training sessions. And the Firm also provides exam support workshops which I found extremely helpful.

The working environment in PwC is excellent with an open and friendly atmosphere around the office. From my experience to date everyone is very approachable and are always willing to share their knowledge. I found this very helpful as a new graduate. There is a real commitment to ensure a work life balance exists which is achieved through the various social activities organised by the Firm. These include nights at the races, weekends away and sporting activities such as pool competitions and tag rugby tournaments.

The best advice I could give you is to attend the various graduate events and speak to my colleagues at PwC to obtain further information about the different departments within the Firm to ensure you choose an area which is right for you.

Assistant Manager

I was attracted to PwC as a graduate employer for a number of reasons; the opportunities for professional and personal development; its reputation as an excellent employer; the fact that it is the leading professional services firm in Ireland with a diverse range of clients and industries; and the great opportunities to travel. And I haven’t been disappointed.

I’ve been very lucky to have a large variety of clients and experiences in PwC. I have been involved in reviews of a client’s key business processes, IT general controls for small and large clients, identifying key risks a client faces and putting controls in place to mitigate those risks. The variety of work across a broad spectrum of clients gives you a very broad overall knowledge of different businesses and before you know it, you grow into a very well rounded professional.

My role involves a lot of communication with clients and Managers from other departments, which I enjoy a lot. I love meeting new people and learning about new businesses so this would be my favourite part of the role. I also really enjoy the responsibility that PwC gives me every day. This could involve anything from planning new jobs to presenting a client with final recommendations and outcomes of our reviews.

The working environment is very positive and there is a culture of common support and trust. Team work is an essential part of working in PwC and is greatly encouraged by the Firm. Hence from day one you get to work with staff from all levels – from Associate to the Partner.

As I am approaching the end of my contract, I am looking more into the variety of options available in PwC. I see myself staying with the Firm after the end of contract and hopefully growing to a managerial role over the next couple of years. My advice to graduates is that PwC is ultimately what you want it to be for you.

Manager

I had decided by final year in college that I wanted to pursue the accountancy exams and become a Chartered Accountant. I found the career path of gaining a wide experience of different industries while working with a professional services firm like PwC very interesting. Throughout the recruitment process I found PwC to be the most personable firm and believed that they were the right fit for me.

When I joined the Firm it was my first time living in Dublin which was an adjustment at first. It takes time to get used to balancing the requirements of working and attending lectures, but the Firm supported me all the way. PwC provides excellent training and development; both formal training which is annual and progressive and also more importantly on-the-job training by peers and more senior staff. I have also been lucky enough to have been sent on secondment to PwC Bratislava which was excellent for the development of my international experience.

I was surprised that I was so client facing from early on in my contract. It’s now actually one of the things I enjoy most about PwC. I have varied and constant interaction with some of the most interesting clients in the Irish marketplace across multiple industries. I see my future with PwC being long and prosperous!

My advice to graduates would be to research as much as you can about the Firm and talk to as many people as possible who work here so that you have all the information before your interview.

Assistant Manager

I had learnt about PwC at various career events in college and from a friend. She had recommended applying to PwC as she had heard about their excellent graduate programme which provided first rate training and a structure to obtain a professional qualification.

I am an Assistant Manager in the Systems and Process Assurance team. The main kind of work which I am involved in is IT general control reviews to enable the Assurance team to obtain reliance on the financially relevant IT systems. I have worked for a number of different clients spread across all sectors including banking, pharmaceutical, medical and manufacturing.

When I joined the Firm I received intensive induction training and also RAS specific training. In addition I have received training every year as I have moved up to a higher level in the Firm. I was also given the opportunity to become a SAP specialist and for this I was sent on two separate training courses in Luxembourg and Vienna. Apart from firm training PwC also offers you the chance to obtain an accountancy qualification with Chartered Accountants Ireland. While the exams are quite challenging the reward is a qualification that is recognised around the world. PwC is very supportive, they organise specific workshop days to go through study techniques and give generous study leave.

The working environment is open and friendly. There is very much a policy of ask the question if you don’t know something and there will always be someone there to help you if you need it. PwC is also very accommodating with regards to a work/life balance and will support you in whatever you do. The thing that I enjoy most about working in PwC is the people. Because of the nature of the work I spend a lot of time on different client sites which means my role is varied and I am constantly meeting new people.

I would advise future graduates to research the position that they are applying for thoroughly. If you believe that you will find the work interesting and challenging then PwC is a firm that will support you in your career choices. You’ll get opportunities to work with a range of businesses around Ireland, to travel, gain a qualification that is known around the world and meet a lot of interesting people.