Anyone work for PwC who can provide some insight?

[SootyandSweepAsleep]

I know PwC as we are a client of theirs.

A very interesting job role there has come up, I am pretty sure I would meet their experience criteria, but not sure whether to be put off from the outset by the Big 4 'sell your soul' perception. I work bloody hard but also need some flexibility and not to end up working crazy hours each week.

This would be for a senior manager position.

I have late primary/early secondary age kids and a husband who works shifts.

Am I even ridiculous for thinking of applying?

I don't work for them but have worked with them on various things. I've met people who work flexibly so I don't think you should rule it out. I'd apply and see when you talk to them about it. Big employers are all about the flexibility needed (although reality can be different). My experience of city life is you have to be firm and push for flex but it is possible if you diary block and pick up stuff later in the evening when critical.

I'd also add sometimes it's easier to achieve flexibility in a new firm because you set the standard on day one, rather than trying to change existing patterns.

I work for a v similar company in a similar role. As a single parent to two.

It's hard work, constant juggle but massively rewarding in many ways. I get the buzz from working with so many incredibly intelligent people.

The support network in a large org are generally good. I'd go for it. Apply you can always decline the offer

@Tickly

I'd also add sometimes it's easier to achieve flexibility in a new firm because you set the standard on day one, rather than trying to change existing patterns.

Agree here. Tell them what will work for you. If it doesn't work for them you have the answer.

@SootyandSweepAsleep

I know PwC as we are a client of theirs.

A very interesting job role there has come up, I am pretty sure I would meet their experience criteria, but not sure whether to be put off from the outset by the Big 4 'sell your soul' perception. I work bloody hard but also need some flexibility and not to end up working crazy hours each week.

This would be for a senior manager position.

I have late primary/early secondary age kids and a husband who works shifts.

Am I even ridiculous for thinking of applying?

I worked there in the past (in the More London office). It depends on where you're working really. If you're in core audit, you might have long hours but even then they don't really reach senior managers and above (it's usually associates/grads with a couple of senior associates and maybe a manager doing the day-to-day stuff). Anything outside of audit will likely be more reasonable. They're pretty flexible in general and I only see it getting better after Corona. I think a lot of the long hours are self-imposed. I was there as a grad and was out of the door at 5:30 unless there was an urgent need, even during busy season.

but not sure whether to be put off from the outset by the Big 4 'sell your soul' perception

The last few people I know who took jobs there were very much "no it's changed, it's not like that anymore" beforehand... And then discovered that it was still exactly like that.

Flexibility meant you could go home to have your dinner and then spend the rest of the evening working from home. Every night, not just from time to time.

I suppose it's possible that some roles are different, but I'm sceptical.

@DedlyMedally I’m intrigued as to how your career path panned out given your working hours?

OP I work for a competitor so will be very similar and I think it depends what service line the role is in. Can you share any more?

I currently work for PWC in audit. My role is not doing the actual audits, more internal finance. I get multiple emails from senior managers on audits late at night and at weekends. It doesn’t bother me, they don’t expect me to respond at that time, but it’s clear they are working.

I worked for years at a big four firm. It was very easy to arrange a flexible working day. It was also necessary to work a lot. How client facing your role is, who your clients are and which partners you work with matter a great deal

I was there as a grad and was out of the door at 5:30 unless there was an urgent need, even during busy season.

Were you still able to get promoted though?

I work at a competitor and agree with a PP that it depends on which part of the business you're going into. Theoretically they will promote family friendly flexible working, but ultimately it depends on the demands of your role.

My husband works for one of the other big 4 and I would say yes, they thoroughly deserve the reputation they have

The last few people I know who took jobs there were very much "no it's changed, it's not like that anymore" beforehand... And then discovered that it was still exactly like that.

Flexibility meant you could go home to have your dinner and then spend the rest of the evening working from home. Every night, not just from time to time.

Sorry bold fail but I agree with this

Promotions up until manage are on a fixed path and I basically left immediately after qualification, like most people (for a different role at another big 4 firm, funnily enough but I don't work there anymore either). My ratings, for the time I was there, were good though.

Ratings aren't really based on hours, they're based on your ability to sell yourself and get people to talk about the stuff you've done. Hours really don't play into it, but you do sort of have to be proactive in managing your workload and pushback against unreasonable deadlines because people will just dump stuff on you.

It is pretty dependant on who you report to, but senior managers weren't really at client sites on a day to day basis. They'd only be in for the important meetings.

It's for an account management type role in non-financial services...

I work bloody hard but also need some flexibility and not to end up working crazy hours each week.

If you need not to end up working crazy hours I think the big 4 is probably not for you. I qualified there, enjoyed the work and the people. Couldn't handle the relentlessness of the hours.

@SootyandSweepAsleep

It's for an account management type role in non-financial services...

You're probably OK then. Everyone I met outside of audit had pretty normal working hours (I applied for an audit role but ended up in something audit-adjacent coincidentally and stuck with it, partly to avoid the long hours). Just bring up your requirements during the interview.

[quote Goingtogetflamed]@DedlyMedally I’m intrigued as to how your career path panned out given your working hours?

OP I work for a competitor so will be very similar and I think it depends what service line the role is in. Can you share any more?[/quote]
I left post-qualification so I can't really help. I did briefly work for Deloitte afterwards and it was near identical to working at PwC (with a less nice office).
My general recommendation for anyone in the Big 4 below manager is to get what you came for and leave. You can get more money for less work by going to literally any of the organisations that recruit Big 4 "alumni".

@Tickly I definitely agree on that one. Wherever my next move is to, I'm only going to take it if it works for me (and also the organisation of course)

You're probably OK then. Everyone I met outside of audit had pretty normal working hours

I disagree with this.
Everyone I know - client facing or not - works long hours.

You can bring up your requirements in interview of course.
But it is a long hours culture. There are inevitable deadlines that need to be met, whatever line of service you’re in, regardless of if you are client facing or not. You work beyond the core hours during the week and at weekends.

@Pineapple3456

You're probably OK then. Everyone I met outside of audit had pretty normal working hours

I disagree with this.
Everyone I know - client facing or not - works long hours.

You can bring up your requirements in interview of course.
But it is a long hours culture. There are inevitable deadlines that need to be met, whatever line of service you’re in, regardless of if you are client facing or not. You work beyond the core hours during the week and at weekends.

Not necessarily but it depends on how you 'lay out your stall'. I've been in a similar role for 11 years. I work long hours when the role demands but to this day have never opened my work laptop on the weekend.

I'm ex big 4 and it really depends on the department/ speciality.

Some teams work genuinely crazy hours, some less so. There is always an expectation that you work above your contracted hours, but the level of flexibility can be very variable.

Lucky you @MumofPsuedoAdult!
Obviously I’m not talking every weekend, thank god. But it does happen fairly regularly for me. And IME it’s not about “setting out my stall.” I can try and push back all I want. But if there’s work that needs doing, and not enough hours in the week then sometimes there no option. Or there are deadlines that simply require it.

It just doesn't match my experience.
I've never worked on a weekend in a total of ~5 years in two big 4 firms.
I'm sure it's a regular occurrence for some people but it was not by any means the norm outside of audit and the busy season.

@DedlyMedally

It just doesn't match my experience. I've never worked on a weekend in a total of ~5 years in two big 4 firms. I'm sure it's a regular occurrence for some people but it was not by any means the norm outside of audit and the busy season.

This does not tally with my experience. And I wasn't in audit (although I did work on some audits as a technical specialist).