Meet Kian Leong
 |
Quek Kian Leong,
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
As I marked my first year anniversary in PwC with my colleagues at Costa Sands Resort in Sentosa, I could not help but to reflect on my time with the firm. In retrospect, it can be summarised in two words: fascinating and challenging.
Fascinating: The culture in the firm is that of empowerment. You are trusted to do a job with minimal bureaucracy. With the freedom to decide for yourself when and how best to get the work done, within the stipulated deadline of course, one does not feel stifled. Should you be at a loss, there will always be ready advice and guidance just beside you. In PwC, there are no bosses or superiors, only mentors. With the myriad of talents within the firm, you have plenty of chances to interact with colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
Challenging: All first-year associates are given ample opportunities to have a wide and varied portfolio ranging from manufacturing to banking industries. As the focus of audit differs from client to client, no two jobs are the same. The diversity of clients also means that you learn to manage the expectations of different clients. Trust me, this can be very challenging indeed!
At the end of the day, what really differentiates one firm from another? To me, the answer clearly lies in whether the firm listens and cares for your needs. How many employers claim to place staff welfare as priority? Many I suppose. But how many real-life examples truly demonstrate this trait? PwC does just that. Being an enthusiastic volunteer, I try to organise an overseas community project every year. In the past, I was able to make use of my school holidays to go away for an extended period of time. However with work commitments, the freedom of taking an entire month off is quite an unfathomable feat.
However, I did just that in PwC. In fact, the firm even went a step further and actively supported my tsunami-relief project in Sri Lanka by organising a firm-wide canvassing event for cash and in-kinds. This gesture of goodwill clearly distinguishes PwC from the other organisations and makes it the employer of choice.
