Learn about the levels of leadership at PricewaterhouseCoopers

We have a saying here at PwC that always crops up during discussions about professional development: You are in charge of your own career. This philosophy of taking ownership of your professional aspirations and leveraging the firm’s coaching programs has helped us attract the best and the brightest from across Canada and around the globe. It has also helped us retain and nurture these individuals through every step of their career.

Follow this career path to explore the direction possible on the journey from an Associate to a Partner at PwC.

For the link text in the button below: Lead the way

Associate

We offer our new Associates an extensive training program designed to teach them about our audit concepts and methodology. As you work toward becoming a CA, you will participate in PwC’s UFE study program immediately upon joining the firm.

You will start applying your growing knowledge of accounting, audit, assurance and taxation to your daily work – spending the majority of your time on-site with clients. You will also be coached by members of the audit teams to develop your client management and professional skills.

Typically our Associates have less than three years of professional work experience and are pursuing their CA designation.

Senior Associate

As a Senior Associate, you’ll start to assume more of a lead role in the audit process – including planning and managing the day-to-day activities of an assignment, and coaching junior members of your team. You may also have opportunities to work at various offices and with clients throughout Canada and the US.

With the increased responsibility, you will be expected to take on more of a leadership role, which includes identifying and resolving client issues, motivating staff and creating a positive work environment.

A Senior Associate usually has three to five years of professional work experience and a CA designation.

Manager

At this level, you have mastered the intricacies of the business and demonstrated leadership and management skills. You will be responsible for managing a portfolio of clients.

Managers provide the leadership required to oversee and manage a wide range of audit teams and business activities, while offering critical business advice to clients' key decision-makers. You will increase your role in developing others and will be counted on to coach and mentor staff.

As your knowledge base becomes more specialized, you will also continue to develop your own expertise in particular business sectors.

Managers typically have five or more years of professional work experience.

Senior Manager

As you expand your focus, as a Senior Manager your responsibilities may include overseeing a specialty area within a practice, such as Life Sciences or Financial Services. As one of the firm's leaders, you will expand and develop client relationships, identify new markets and mentor staff.

You will also be expected to take a more public role, including hosting seminars, running research surveys, writing point-of-view pieces, speaking in public, teaching courses, and becoming active in community organizations.

Through our seminars, courses and 'lunch and learns', PwC will provide you with the training you need to meet your growing responsibilities as a Senior Manager.

Associate Partner

Associate Partners are specific senior people who have distinguished themselves as key players in the local market as industry or product specialists. They are regarded as knowledgeable practitioners with a solid track record of performance excellence and a strong client focus.

As an Associate Partner, you have a dedicated client portfolio and are directly responsible for relationships and services to clients. You will take on similar responsibilities as the Partners for practice oversight and administration, while continuing to grow the practice. You will also play a key role in developing people and recruiting and retaining staff.

Partner

Reflecting the continuing development of your leadership skills and your profound commitment to the firm, you may be admitted to partnership. As a Partner, some of your responsibilities include developing the firm's client base/market share, maintaining the firm's technical and professional standards, overseeing the development of staff, and taking a leadership role in the community.

As a key member of the business community, you will also be expected to interact with the public and the media, including hosting seminars, orchestrating research surveys, writing point-of-view pieces, speaking in public and teaching courses.

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