Company: PwC
Date: 2008-06-11
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: current

An old school auditor duckling that so badly wants to be viewed as the swan.
Pros: Opportunity to work with very intelligent people and work in an organization that is far more than an accounting firm. PwC has gone through it's own share of growing pains and has spun off and then reinvested in a variety of businesses over the years and now that the non-compete with IBM has expired their Advisory practice is fully able to serve clients the way that they want to. This is an extremely exciting time to be a part of this business because the PwC reputation is extremely valuable globally and most of the clients are large multi-nationals. There is a heavy commitment to PwC People and while you work around the clock like a dog, there is a shared respect and support. Similar to living in New York, you never know how supportive your neighbors are until there is a crisis but when there is, the firm stands behind you. 

Strong commitment to community service.
Cons: It is by no means perfect, it is often described as Investment Banking hours at accounting wages. There is still a lot the firm needs to do to walk the talk and drink it's own very valubale advice it provides to its clients. There are two types of people at PwC, partners and those waiting to leave. IFS and support roles are simply never as valued as client facing roles and you will not make partner and therefore will never reap the true rewards of your work if you find yourself in that role. IFS people must be satisfied being a servant but never a knight. 

On the client facing side it is very much a deliverable mentality. These are people who are really good at working hard and turning work in on time, but many lack the relationship skills to look past the work product to truly partner with their clients to anticipate their issues and become fully invested in the success of their clients. Subject matter expertise is never a problem, communicating and articulating issues in a way that non-PwC people understand is always underestimated and extremely valuable when done right.

Slow to move - cannon on an ant. Th firm has so many layers of adminstrative beuarocracy that common sense can often take a back seat to policy without purpose. There are great and innovative and creative people who get frustrated and leave because they focus on results and the method is a secondary concern. This is where its history of being an auditor can hinder growth and creativity. Running a business consulting practice which includes tax consulting and transaction services like you do an audit practice simply does not make sense. Again, the firm would not advise its clients to do this but can't seem to get out of its own way.

Can't invest in ANYTHING! Forget your personal portfolio. Working for the firm that audits most of the financial services and fortune 100's means you are precluded from investing in pretty much everything unless you spend all of your free time working through independence issues.