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

Great opportunity if you're willing to put in the hours.
Pros: There is immense opportunity at PwC.  It is an environment where you are expected to know what to do, when to do it, and you are expected to do it efficiently and effectively.  Working there you will be surrounded by people who are smart, outgoing, and driven.  To be successful you must show a lot of initiative and be able to take on a lot of responsibility.  If you can do that then you can move up very quickly.  It is a very positive environment to work in.
Cons: The biggest downside is late hours at certain times of the year.  There used to be a busy season from Jan-Apr for audit staff.  However, staff seem now to work longer hours throughout the year.  I found that we were short-staffed on virtually all jobs and the partners were still bringing in more clients.  I was also unimpressed with the way bonuses were handed out.  For a time it was based strictly on how many chargeable hours you had.  That didn't promote efficiency.  They later changed it to add other factors such as firm involvement, volunteering, and business development.  But it seemed we never got much for the hours we put in whereas a small number of superstars got the lions share.  THe firm offers great opportunity for learning and advancement but unless your goal is to make partner you can get a job in industry that will be equally rewarding with better pay and less hours.