Graduate Blog

Ana - Assurance

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This week it was time to get out of the office and back to the classroom.  Following on from the three weeks training program in Croke Park received when I first joined PwC, each year since then we received two weeks of intensive in-house training provided by managers and assistant managers in PwC to familiarise ourselves with the financial statement areas we would be working on at our new grade.  It also gave us an opportunity to meet with our peers in other departments and share experiences and ideas.  In addition to technical material the courses always include a communication module, covering areas such as business writing, verbal communication; client v colleague and how to read body language.

This year upon promotion to Assistant Manager 1 we attended a one week training program covering the more complex areas of an audit we will now be responsible such as FRS 17; Accounting for retirement benefits, FRS 2; Consolidation accounting and FRS 16; Accounting for current and deferred tax – All those lovely areas the lecturers skipped in college!! At the start of the week I could see why but now I’ve reached the end of the week it doesn’t seem so bad anymore.

Also included in our training program was a session on ‘auditing in an economic downturn’ which I found very informative and practical as very few of us were around the last time this was relevant!!

Next week its back to the office to put all my new knowledge into practice…i’ll let you know how that works out!

I would like to take this opportunity to say how nice it was to meet so many of you at the graduate lunches which I hope you found informative and helpful.  By now you are probably getting towards the end of the milk round process and starting to weigh up your options.  As I said to those of you I talked to, remember it’s the people you met that you will be working with day to day, have a think back to the presentations and interview – who did you get on best with, who seemed the most like minded, most fun to be around? Then you have your answer!  Good luck whatever your decision.

Shane - Advisory

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I realise it has been a while since last I made a post. As I said in my last one I was preparing for another busy season and there we have it. So busy I haven’t had a minute to make another post to you guys.

Anyway, since last I wrote here I have had a one week training course in Spencer Dock. Every year as we move up a level we are trained on how to perform at our new levels. What I like about these courses, apart from the fact that we do learn a lot, is that we get to see friends and colleagues from our intake that you don’t get a chance to see all year. These are people that you met on your first day which is over 3 years ago for me so it is always fun to catch up. Plus it is a week without suits and client work which can be a welcome break especially at this time of the year.

Since the training course I have been off-site at a client in Kilkenny. Working hard and living the hotel life for a few weeks. I have been working on a client that I have worked on since joining PwC in 2005 so I really enjoy this engagement as I know it so well. The hours involved are long but the relationships are good so it actually makes it easy and surprisingly good fun.

Kilkenny is a nice place to work especially with so many nice places to eat in the evenings and staying in a really good hotel with a good pool and great gym. Don’t get me wrong. I couldn’t live like that all the time but it is a good change for a few weeks and although it is a city it is much more laid back that Dublin and has a good feel to it. It may not be a holiday but being a country boy from Donegal and the client being 17 miles outside the city I feel right at home so it is a good break for me.

I am now back in Dublinbut still out of the office and a number of different clients for the next two weeks the back to Kilkenny for 2 weeks and sure then we are approaching the Festive Season. So it is all go go go but really enjoyable at the minute!

Kirstin - Assurance

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This week I have been catching up with my E-Learning. As the name suggests, E-Learning is an electronic study programme. Every level in PwC has a certain amount of E-Learning to complete during the year, and the deadline is coming up in the next month so I thought I had better book myself in to finish up any outstanding modules I had left to do.  At the end of each module there is a revision test and when we pass that we get a certificate which we forward on to Learning and Development so they can keep track of our progress.

Last week I was working on a grant claim for a small research and development business. This job involved going to the client site and checking that the client’s grant claim was in keeping with the regulations and conditions attached to the grant. It really was a case of checking that expenses were legitimate and if the amounts being claimed were under the threshold. The client was really helpful and nice, and had all the documentation I needed ready, which is always a bonus.

I’ve also been setting up files and preparing for my audit engagements coming up soon. Over the next few months I will be working on many varied audits, from hospitals, to indigenous business to charities. The work is so varied, and in BWS each engagement usually only lasts 3 weeks, so we get a chance to work on many different clients.

Tracey - Tax

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In PwC there is a big emphasis on regularly meeting with our clients. Since the 2009 Budget was announced by the Minister for Finance I have been spending a lot of time meeting with my clients, updating them on the relevant budget changes that will impact their businesses and having a chat with them in general to get an idea as to how their businesses are performing in the current environment. This is very helpful to us when we come to do their compliance each year and also in ensuring that we, as a firm, provide all the relevant services which our clients require.

This week I have been working on writing a document to outline all the relevant tax and legal provisions, exemptions and reliefs which would be applicable to a holding company which sets up in Ireland. I find this type of consultancy work interesting as it involves researching how each tax head would impact a holding company e.g. corporation tax, VAT, customs, etc, and it is also great for learning the different sections of the legislation.

Research of the tax legislation and case law is a big part of our job as tax consultants. It is necessary when we are writing opinions for our clients, when we try to establish ways for our clients to reduce their tax liabilities and in answering queries from our clients on issues specific to their business.

Last week was the annual PwC table quiz. It was held in the Mansion House and there were in excess of 100 teams. Myself and three friends from my department entered a team. Unfortunately we didn’t win but we had a great night all the same. Also, in excess of €4,000 was raised for charity on the night, so a successful night all in all.