Regional Office Profiles

Senior Associate

As part of my degree I completed an eight month work placement with PwC. From the excellent experience I had with the firm I decided it was my first choice for my professional graduate training.

What made PwC attractive to me was that they provide opportunities to graduates to progress in both their personal and professional development. At a personal level you are constantly networking both with your colleagues, managers, partners and clients; this enables you to make lifelong friendships and business connections. My professional development is facilitated through revision courses, ample study leave which is beyond the Institute requirements and full assistance and support for any questions about the professional exams.

I really enjoy working in the Limerick office as I have come to know my fellow professional graduates and managers very well and I know that if I need assistance I can just ask. Coaching is an integral part of the PwC culture and every member of staff is constantly coaching one another which enables everyone to feel part of a team.

The abundance of opportunities which PwC has made available to me is extensive. Since joining not one working day has been the same, each audit differs from the previous and the rewards and challenges that come with the job are never jaded. Over the past year I have had the opportunity to travel on audit engagements ranging from Mayo to London, from Limerick to Leeds. I can safely say life is not dull working in PwC. My role has been mainly within audit engagements, ranging from being part of a large team in multinational companies to being part of smaller teams on engagements and most recently completing a pension audit by myself.

The main challenge I face over the next twelve months will hopefully be passing my finals next year but I have no doubt that PwC will support me fully in this endeavour!

My advice to future graduates would be that if you would like to work in an environment which exposes you to ample opportunities for learning and development, affords you lifelong friends and many enjoyable experiences, then apply to PwC as they will invest in you.

Senior Associate

I completed six months’ work experience at PwC’s Wexford office as part of my degree. It was PwC’s reputation that attracted me to apply. Before my placement I knew little, if anything, about auditing or what working for a large firm like PwC would involve, but I was intrigued to find out how such a large firm operated. When I started my work placement I initially had a week’s training in Dublin where I met other college students also on work placement in different offices. And it was surprising how many of the same faces were there again when I returned last year after graduating. It’s safe to say I’ve made some great friends.

Working in one of the smaller offices allows you to get to know the managers and staff quickly and everyone’s always happy to help no matter how busy they may be. The three weeks training I had in Dublin before I started as an Associate gave me a fantastic grounding. Not only did it give me a real insight into the work we’d be completing over the coming year, it also helped me develop working relationships with my peers.

There are always fresh challenges and new people to meet. Over the past year I’ve worked in Cork, Kilkenny and Newcastle as well as Wexford. I’ve audited the Irish subsidiary of large multinational and prepared accounts for small sole traders. Being involved in a wide range of work is a big help when it comes to sitting professional exams. I was able to draw on the many different experiences I’d had and apply them to the theory I was learning.

Without a doubt, getting your professional qualification is tough. I attended lectures at weekends, and then had nine weeks off work to study. But even away from the office I had great support from my colleagues. My next goal is to pass my final admitting exams. Then I’m looking forward to a long career packed with new opportunities.

Specialist

As I had decided that I wanted to pursue a career in Tax, it was an easy choice in deciding to apply for a graduate place in PwC given their excellent reputation. When I joined PwC I was not let down as from day one I received immense support both in terms of formal training and guidance from work colleagues.

From the offset I was involved in a number of very interesting and challenging assignments. In the regional offices the spectrum of clients is very broad ranging from multinational organisations to wealthy individuals. This exposes you to a wide range of work, ranging from double taxation issues for multinationals to advice for individuals. The challenging work and the chance to work with prestigious clients is extremely rewarding.

Since joining PwC I have received excellent training in the form of both technical tax training and training on various soft skills. I have also received numerous training sessions in relation to exams from people who have sat the exams the year before. Receiving advice from people that have been through a similar scenario not so long ago is a great support as these exams are challenging. Working with PwC has allowed me to grow through training and hands on experience. In the small number of months since joining PwC my knowledge has increased immensely and given the culture of support and encouragement that is prevalent throughout PwC I am sure I will continue to grow and learn over my time with the firm.

For graduates thinking of applying to PwC, I would say that PwC is a place where an individual is encouraged to learn and develop and certainly a place where you can fulfil your potential.

Specialist

Prior to applying to work for PwC I had done a lot of research in relation to the firm and its values. As a result of which I knew it was a firm that valued its people and prided itself on providing excellent customer service.

Since I joined PwC I have been continuously surprised by the variety of my work on a daily basis. This makes every day different which is both exciting and very challenging at times. It also ensures that I am learning every day and looking back now I can say that I have come a long way since I started my career with PwC.

As I work in a regional office I do not specialise in one tax area as a result I get the opportunity to work on corporation tax, income tax, capital taxes and VAT. In the past number of months I have also been given the opportunity to work in the area of pensions and investments. This variety of the work affords me great opportunities to build relationships with my clients.

There are two sides to the work I do in Tax, one is the compliance side and the other is the consultancy side. On the compliance side I ensure that my clients’ returns are correctly completed and returned to Revenue on time. On the consultancy side I get the opportunity to provide specific advice to clients which is tailored to respond to a client’s particular situation.

I love the client side of my role within PwC as I get to build relationships with my clients’ which allows me the opportunity to ensure that their needs are being met through the service we provide. I very much enjoy the variety in my role within PwC as no day is the same and I know that I am continually learning.

My immediate focus is on successfully completing my professional exams. Once I have successfully completed these I would hope to continue to work for PwC and develop my career with a view to becoming a PwC manager in the future.

Senior Associate 2

When I joined PwC I quickly began to realise the vast amount that PwC had to offer. They work with a diverse range of clients across many different industries and the experience that I would gain would prove invaluable to me in the future. After completing my work placement, I was offered a graduate position and I was delighted to accept their offer.

I’m now in my second year of my training contract, working in the Cork office. So far I have had the opportunity to work on audits that vary from large multinationals to Irish indigenous companies to local charities. It is this variety that makes my role enjoyable.

There are over 80 people working in the Cork office and this allows everyone to get know each other easily and supports a good working environment. We organise many social events throughout the year with the annual weekend away featuring as the main event.

PwC is a very friendly place to work. As soon as you enter the door, you will meet new people who will offer you help and support as they have all been where you are before. So even though starting off here was daunting, I soon discovered how helpful and encouraging everyone was. They gave me advice and guidance when I needed it and I always feel I’m a valued member of each audit team.

The Firm also encourages a strong work life balance. I play basketball at National league level, which involves team training twice a week and games every weekend from October to March. Since I have joined, PwC have been very supportive and accommodating, allowing me to fulfil my sporting ambitions.

I would highly recommend PwC to graduates. There is a strong learning and development culture and as a result you will receive comprehensive training each year. My advice for future graduates thinking of joining PwC would be to be prepared for a challenging few years. Each job that you will work on has its own challenges but the knowledge and experience that you will gain will benefit you greatly throughout your career.