PwC -what are they like to work for?

[Tempnamelady]

Name changed for anonymity

I’m 47,considering a Manager level role, non Tax/Accountancy in the North if that’s relevant ?

What’s the culture like, working environment , long hours expected etc?

I don’t have childcare issues as kids grown and gone, I currently work in a similar role, not Big 4 though, more employee bens consultancy. Very much in my comfort zone and completely self motivated / autonomous with reasonable flexibility. But feeling a bit stale and undervalued after 13 years in the same role.

Obviously I don’t mind putting a shift in, but micro management and an expectation of regular unpaid overtime don’t really float my boat.

Opinions much appreciated.

I worked for PwC for over 10 years. The culture of the firm as a whole is good. Lots of flexibility and a lot of respect for your life outside work in my experience. However your day to day role will be heavily impacted by the people you work with most frequently so if you haven't already, then ask those same questions to whoever has offered you the job and see if you like their answer.

For manager and above roles the interview process is as much about you finding out what you need as about them finding out about you. Again, if you haven't already, then ask to meet some of the people on the team e.g. Can you go for a coffee with an existing manager in the team who can answer role specific questions and help you understand the job better?

Thanks pink - only at interview stage but this is great advice and will take your comments on board. Good to hear you though it was ok as the Glass Door reviews were mixed at best. I suppose working as a grad going to be v different to an experienced hire.

Any other opinions v welcome?

Yes don't rely on reviews of people who join as an auditor on the graduate scheme and leave after 3 years! Their experience will be completely different and very focused on the long hours you are sometimes asked to do in audit busy season and the pressure of passing their chartered accountant exams.

I worked in tax and obviously sometimes there are last minute things which mean you have to stay late or travel at short notice but when I wasn't busy I would do my normal hours and have a good degree of autonomy about when/where I worked, also interesting projects to work on and great colleagues to learn from.

I think it depends on what the role is. Finance or HC will have times of the year when you will be required to do unpaid overtime - budget setting or moderation for example. It’s part of the job.
I’m a non-client facing Manager and have done 10 hour days with no lunch break every day this week. I don’t get paid overtime.
This is not the norm, but it does happen fairly frequently to get the job done.
But, and this is key, I enjoy what do. I get paid well, there are very good flexible benefits, the people I work with are fab etc...

I was there for 11 years and worked my way up to Senior Manager before I left. Consultant in the tax division but with a specialism (which is a bit outing so I won't say!). I left in the end more because of the travel that was expected of me rather than the hours as such, but to be fair that was pretty unique to the team I was in and loads of people barely travelled at all. I did work the odd spell of 80 hour weeks now and again but always on specific projects with an end in sight, and the flipside was the ability to work from home, come in late, go early etc when I wasnt busy. Hours and culture wise it really wasn't as bad as a lot of people make out, but I agree with a PP that a lot of it will be driven by the personalities and ways of working in your immediate team more than any firmwide culture. I also found it very equitable in terms of sex, race etc and didn't in any way feel disadvantaged in terms of career progression by being female, which I have done in other workplaces.

Apologies for the lack of paragraphs!

I worked there for 15 years, finishing as a senior manager in tax. When I came back after my first maternity leave (20 years ago!) I went to 3 days a week and was just about the first person to do so in my office. I had to leave on time for nursery pick ups etc most days. The partners I worked for were very supportive, and in fact my SM promotion was after a year back part time.

I totally agree that it will depend on the others in the team as to what the culture is like.

Really helpful responses thank you so much to you all.

I’ve had dealings from being a client of PwC and I must say I did see a decent representation of women in the assurance side of the business and several of the ladies I engaged with were p/t , going off on maternity etc. Quite refreshing.

As I said I’ve no childcare commitments as my pfb is away at uni, and I’m certainly willing to get stuck in to get the job done, if the recognition and reward make it worthwhile.

Food for thought...... Thanks again.