Tax Profiles

Specialist

I did a Summer Internship with PwC and after this I knew a lot about the values that people working in PwC have and this enticed me to come back as a graduate. Even having worked here before I was still surprised at how willing and committed people were to helping me settle in. Everyone was prepared to sit down and talk me through different aspects of the work which I’d be required to do.

Since joining PwC I have mainly been involved in compliance work which involves drafting corporation tax computations and returns for my clients. Recently however, I have been involved in a lot of UK reporting regime work. This is a relatively new area so I am very lucky to be involved at such an early stage. I have been involved in client calls and meetings in relation to UK reporting which has been a great experience for me.

I really enjoy the team ethos in PwC, everyone is part of a team and it is good to know that I can add value to projects and my team. From day one I was involved in a huge variety of work which was enjoyable and also substantially broadened my knowledge of tax. In the future I hope to keep moving up through the grades in PwC and do well in my exams. I have just completed my Part 2 tax exams so now I have one set of tax and one set of accounting exams left before I am qualified. Fingers crossed they all go well for me.

Consultant

My first impressions of PwC were very positive. I was struck by the warmth and friendliness of the people I met when attending events in preparation for the Milkround interviews. All of my questions were answered thoroughly. I was immediately put at ease during my interview and it was this open and friendly working environment which attracted me to PwC above all the other firms I applied to.

I am currently a Consultant in the Domestic and International Outbound unit. I am involved in the corporation tax compliance process for a number of high profile and household names in the consumer and retail industry. The compliance process involves assisting the client in preparing its corporation tax return and ensuring that all relevant deadlines are met in a timely manner. More recently a greater part of my work has been corporation tax consultancy work which adds a different dimension to my daily work.

There is a positive atmosphere throughout PwC. I enjoy the collaborative nature of working in client service teams and interacting with people across all grades. This teamwork enhances my learning and provides a supportive working environment. By joining the firm with an intake of peers, I feel that a sense of camaraderie and friendship is developed.

The thing I enjoy most is the constant people interaction within my role, whether that be with colleagues or clients.

Consultant

I am currently a tax consultant in the HRS department. It’s a very interesting, and the largest area of PwC’s tax practice. I have 20 or 30 personal tax clients whose individual tax affairs I look after throughout the year. I prepare their income tax returns as well as their Capital Gains tax computations and any other issues that may arise. I am lucky in that I get to deal with these clients one-on-one.

PwC place a high emphasis on training and the four year Core Training framework is a feature of working life in the tax department. For the first two years there was a training programme whereby my intake received specialised training once a week for a number of months on the various different taxes as well as other useful topics.

The working environment is very open, and from partners to assistants, everyone is open and willing to answer any queries I might have had since I started working here. There is a very strong work ethic and it is expected that you perform your work well, that you respect your fellow colleagues and pass your professional exams.

I would certainly advise any graduate to apply to join PwC as it is a great opportunity to work alongside the best and brightest in the industry. I can guarantee that should you come to work here you will be highly impressed with what the firm has to offer in terms of your career development.

Consultant

I work in the tax department of PwC Dublin where I specialise in working with both multinational and Irish headquartered companies operating in the software, technology and telecommunications sector. . After the initial shock of no longer having a college timetable but a regular working week, I quickly settled in to working life in PwC. There were two main reasons for this. Firstly, PwC have adopted a policy of assigning a ‘buddy’ to each new graduate. My buddy was a lifesaver – no matter what the task I was struggling with, I could always turn to my buddy who would guide me in the right direction.

Secondly, another great system PwC have in place is that for my first three years in the firm, I attended training sessions on a weekly basis. Apart from the technical benefits of this, particularly for the professional exams, it provided a great opportunity for me to find my feet and develop relationships with my intake.

Since completing my final exams, I have been faced with a whole new range of challenges as result of my involvement in the more complex tax consultancy projects and the additional responsibility which I have been afforded. The consultancy projects I have worked on recently have ranged from restructuring a multinational group structure to move Intellectual Property to Ireland to avail of Irish tax incentives, setting up new entities in emerging markets such as Indonesia, China and Sri Lanka, to putting in place structures to reward key employees in a tax efficient manner. Almost four years in, I can honestly say I have never regretted my decision to join PwC. I find the work challenging and I know the experience I have gained from working with such high calibre domestic and international clients will always stand to me.

Specialist

I work in Human Resources tax so I’m involved with clients on their tax compliance, relocation and international mobility. I enjoy the variety the most and was able to work in our Reward Advisory section for a few months which was a great learning curve. I like the personal side of my work as well – speaking to expatriates and international assignees and advising them on their tax affairs.

I love the department I work in. There’s a really relaxed, friendly vibe and everyone is very approachable and happy to answer any questions you have. We have a gym here open 24/7 and the office building itself is fantastic. There’s a great work/ life balance with the managers considerate of your life outside work.

One of the big things that attracted me to the firm was the training. As well as daily coaching from senior colleagues – who are some of the best in their fields – you get training on all the different taxes plus specific training on issues relevant to your particular department. Plus, because the firm is so big, you’re always learning something new.

I’m approaching the end of my first year here and still have three more sets of exams to complete so I’m very focused on those right now. While the exam path can seem daunting, PwC offers excellent exam support and training and works hard to make sure we all complete our exams successfully. Looking further ahead, I’m really interested in the secondment opportunities the firm offers. Currently seven of my department colleagues are seconded to various parts of the world.

If you’re thinking of a career here, ask plenty of questions. Once you join, don’t be afraid to make suggestions. And be sure to get involved in both the work and the social side of the firm.

Specialist

Having spent a few years in the Physiotherapy profession I made a big decision to change my career. My primary concern was that as I was coming from a non-business degree background and would PwC be interested in hiring someone like me. The response from every PwC person I spoke to was a resounding "yes". It was extremely encouraging to see that PwC welcomed graduates with such a diverse background which, when I got the offer to join the firm, made my decision a simple one.

As a Tax Specialist, I am coming to the end of my second year in the firm. In the last year I have been involved in the coordination of the global tax compliance of two major global technology companies. This involves me being in regular contact with my colleagues in PwC offices around the world from the Ivory Coast to Singapore to the US. I’m on the client service teams doing the tax compliance of well known Irish companies and more recently have worked on the restructuring of some of these businesses. My workload is very diverse and extremely interesting as I see how major companies react to the current economic climate and the important role that PwC, as their tax advisors, has in assisting their business.

Without doubt, standards are set very high in the firm. However, there is plenty of help and encouragement available to achieve them. No problem is too great nor too small and I have found the support from the people I work with across all grades and departments fantastic, especially in the early days when I was finding my feet.

Once all my exams are finished, I hope to remain in the firm to further my experience before looking into a secondment overseas for a period of time. PwC offers lots of opportunities to work in a variety of PwC offices all around the world, which I feel would be a fantastic experience both personally and professionally.

Partner

I knew the PwC Tax Practice had a strong reputation in the local market and I wanted to work for a firm where I would get top-class training and excellent experience with the very best clients. I also knew they had a considerable international presence and I was keen to work for a firm that was part of a strong global network.

When I first started considering my career options, I was fortunate to receive offers from a number of firms. But it was the people I met as part of the interview process which influenced my decision to join PwC - they took a personal interest in me and I really got the sense that my contribution would be recognised and appreciated. I felt that I wasn’t going to be just one of a large number of graduates but rather than I would be mentored and encouraged on a individual basis within my team – and I am glad to say that’s exactly how it turned out.

I was surprised at the amount of responsibility I was given right from the start. From day one, I was part of a client service team working directly with clients. The responsibility and role I play on the team has changed as my career developed – now as a Partner I am responsible for leading many key client relationships and making sure we are delivering the breadth of our services to clients to meet their needs. But I couldn’t do it on my own and I rely on the help and support of the whole team. Everyone at PwC pulls together to make sure we meet the highest standards of client service, all of which is helped by an open, friendly and supportive environment.

As for the variety of work I do, it’s fantastic. From advising on large corporate re-organisations, to helping companies establish operations in Ireland, to assisting film producer’s avail of tax incentives for film production, it’s always challenging, rewarding and never dull. It might sound clichéd - but every day really is different.

At PwC, we believe in career-long learning. This means there are lots of opportunities for training and development at every stage of your career, even at Partner level. The focus in the early part of my career was on the training and support needed to pass the professional exams. But as my career developed, it became more about equipping me with the skills to be a rounded business advisor.

So don’t hold back at your careers fairs, meet PwC people and learn more about what we have to offer. Think long term too – the range of experience and opportunities a firm like PwC offers will make sure you have a solid foundation to build your professional career.