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PwC Grad Scheme Worth It?

Hi All,

I recently finished my second year at the University of Leicester, followed by my audit summer internship at PwC. With application season and my third year soon underway, I have received an offer to go back to PwC on a Graduate Scheme.

Make no mistake, I understand how hard it is to land any Grad Scheme, and PwC is a prestigious company, so I am grateful for it. But every time I search up Big 4 Audit on reddit/sr, its all about how the pay is awful for the hours, how the tasks are mind numbing, and how there is much better out there. But what?

My biggest issue with the Big 4 is the hours, so please don't suggest IB, since that to me is a no-go.

All I want is a 9-5 job, less than 55hrsp/w at most, a decent starting salary(+£40k), decent career progression, professional qualification for future job security, and in the financial services industry. Banking, or Back office, I really don't care what it is, just something. I understand the top banking roles have a much higher salary than big4, and the work is more enticing, but I don't to work crazy hours(70+). Just something cushty, to do with numbers/finance, where 3-5 yrs in I can be making 100k.

I'm confident if I try this application season I can land something, but I should start soon if I want to stand a good chance.

So shall I Accept the PwC offer and avoid the hassle, or try for something better, and if so, what?

Reply 1

Bluefoxy09

My advice is stick with PWC, graduate schemes are incredibly hard to get and can be stressful and time consuming during your final year of studying.
My advice on pay and hours is , the more you put in the more you get out. No large company will expect you to do 55hr weeks, their HR team won’t allow it. Salaries for most grad schemes peak at £35k a year in London and are usually less than that in other parts of the country.