Compensation is far below finance roles outside of PwC and other big 4 firms, long hours, inefficient use of time, inefficiency is rewarded, lower/mid level staff are mostly incompitent, difficult to obtain time with partners
Long hours during busy seasons. Work assignments can be boring at times. Sometimes there are poor communications from superiors, but can be easily managed usually, communication is the key to success. HR department is not very helpful at times. Lots of sudden assignments and projects which can push you to the limit.
- Difficulty in measuring quality of output - not a PwC specific issue, but in areas such as audit it is easier to measure quantity than quality - as a result, some people do have the slightly cynical view that recognition and reward will link to quantity rather than quality. This is not quite true and certainly quality is valued, but unfortunately it is not always easily measured, and as a result, rewarded. This, combined with the fact that PwC is a very large organisation, means that, with some exceptions, progression often comes down to the amount of time you have spent with the firm.
- Cyclical work flows – dependant on your line of service, industry group and time of year – For auditors, certain months can be highly demanding, and leave little time for a personal life, and some staff may feel that there is an expectation that they will work long hours. But equally, there are quieter periods, which do offer the opportunity for much easier hours or time off. Again, not really a PwC specific issue.
