Company: PwC
Date: 2008-07-04
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: current

Speak up for what you want.
Pros: I work in the tax practice and find there is great opportunity for diversity  and knowledge growth. I work in a bigger office so there are many lines of service, such as high net worth individual returns, R&D credits, compliance for corporations, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions etc. There are many possibilities and areas that you can try to see which fits you best. I really feel if you speak up and let people know what you want to work on, then they will work with you to get you on jobs and projects that fit your desires. The biggest thing is you have to speak up, because if not then you will get stuck on the same project and same team. I enjoy a bigger office as there are more people to diversify who you work with as well as options for work experience. 

I really enjoy that you are assigned a buddy when you first start and as well during your internship. This buddy is usually an associate or a senior associate as well as a coach who is a manager  and then you are assigned a partner coach. They want you to have someone you can relate to as well as talk to about your career path and other questions. I like this structure so you feel you have someone to personally can go to as well, they take you to lunch at least each quarter to keep an open connection.

I also am please with their review process, even though it is quite lengthy process in the end you enjoy the feedback from different areas on your strengths and weaknesses. Most co-workers won't tell you openly how they feel about your work product, so this allows a great opportunity for them to write it down as well for you to expound on your areas you think you excelled in.

Also I feel I was given great Holiday and paid vacation time off, as well as other flexible work arrangements and financial benefits.
Cons: The cons as in any Big 4 public accounting firm is the unpredictable work schedule. It is all based on when the client gets the work papers and information to you so that you can prepare the returns and other work papers.  Your deadline will always be the same to get it back to them, but they don't always get you the information you need on time.

I haven't found many cons yet, my main complaint is the unpredictable work schedule.  I enjoy the group I work with, but I have heard others say they don't have a good organization or management, as this can happen any any company or any firm.