Mark - Assurance

It was PwC’s reputation both here in Ireland and globally that attracted me. But when I joined the firm I was still overawed by the vast number of people who work here and fascinated to see how they all work together. Rotating in and out of teams gives you the chance to explore different businesses and industry sectors. It’s also a great way of building up your network of contacts.

I’m now an assistant manager within the Investment Management Group - the largest department in the firm, with over 300 staff. As an associate, you’re more hands-on during audits, whereas now, I spend more time on client relationship, coaching and mentoring junior colleagues and working directly with Managers and Partners on specific projects.

The working environment in PwC is a friendly and efficient one. As a graduate it’s like an extension to college. There is always someone you can turn to ask for advice or help on something if you are unsure. And the people I started with have become firm friends over the years.

Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to secure an eight week secondment to Boston. It was an excellent learning experience as I got to work within an entirely different regulatory framework. We were put up right in the heart of city, and needless to say we made the most of it outside working hours.

As for the future, I would love to work overseas for a longer period at some stage. And since PwC have operations in more than 150 countries, I don’t doubt they’ll be able to accommodate my ambitions. I’m now ACA qualified and I’m considering doing my Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams which would enhance my prospects even further.

To my mind, PwC is a fabulous place to begin your career - the training opportunities and long term prospects are truly second to none. That said, the best advice I could give to anyone who’s thinking of applying is to weigh up your options and make a choice based on what you want and not what your friends think or where they’re going to work.