PricewaterhouseCoopers – “PwC - pros and cons”

Pros

offer support for an excellent post graduate qualification. the chartered accountancy qualification is widely regarded the world over and allows you to work in other countries. PwC supports working overseas which greatly was a strong reason for joining.

Working for PwC gives an excellent start into the business world and builds a strong understanding of finance. It also allows exposure of how to run a successful finance dept because you get the change to watch so many different ones during the course of your career.

The social side of work is good, because there are a large number of young people.

Cons

There is solid (if slow) career progression available. Most people seem to get promoted based on working a set number of years, rather than by actual skills available.

Working hours can be horrendous. There is frequent dislocation between the message for work life balance and expected working hours. There is also frequent working over weekends. The general quality of staff is poor given that this is a service organisation that is built on the quality of its staff. New ideas are not often accepted by others and there is a good deal of politics played by more senior staff trying to get promoted.

Advice to Senior Management

1) Think about involving non-managers in the decision making process, and having some respect for senior associates who are in there promotion year and are quite capable of managing their own time.