Why I Left PwC Audit (Starting as an intern, Leaving as a senior, Big 4 Toronto)
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- Опубликовано: 28 июл 2024
- Hi friends, welcome back! In today's video I take you through my corporate journey in Audit at PwC Toronto from an intern to why I left as a senior in 2021. Please keep in mind that these are just my experiences and not representative of the firm as a whole. I'll see you in the next one! - Reina xo
Let me know in the comments below if you want any specific videos about my story, the pros and cons of Audit/Big 4, the CPA exams (or anything else!)
Other places to find me:
Website: www.roamingreina.com
Instagram: roamingreina
Chapters
0:00 - introduction
0:15 - background/networking
01:06 - first co-op term
01:25 - real world vs. school
02:04 - worst client ever
02:53 - work life balance
03:25 - subsequent co-op terms
03:58 - early promotion to senior
04:29 - full time realizations
05:28 - first & last busy season as a senior
06:23 - completely done
06:35 - deciding to leave
07:49 - internal transfer + interviewing
08:30 - telling my manager
09:03 - concluding thoughts
10:10 - lessons learned
PWC, EY, KPMG, Deloitte
The ONLY reason why I stayed for 3 years was because It would look really great on my resumé and set me up for the future. I was so anxious and overwhelmed at times that I would take "breathers" in the staircases.
Can definitely relate...happy you also moved onto a different role :)
Read this recently that if your company requires you to work late hours and on weekends , it's the company that is broken. Glad you are out of it and realised it early on. Balance is key.
Thanks so much :)
@Lilman Yellow exactly, legit there are people who work 16+ hour everyday
indeed that company is broken, I am currently working there and I can tell, they all want is to take money from the client and have unreasonable expectations on the consultants, to work overnight or weekends,
This is so well put together, you're a great speaker!
Aw thank you so much!!
This resonates to me so much. I was in a similar boat as yours, joined PwC as an intern and (finally) left as a senior in December lol. While I could not refute the fact that I landed on my current (amazing) job because of the Big 4 name in my CV, I still have the anxiety and depression developed from my years in audit. I remember crying in the bathroom from all the stress and the expectations of managers and clients, then had to put on a smile when I walk out to face my team. While I met a lot of amazing people and will miss late nights with them, the other experiences left a bad taste in my mouth. High five for surviving audit!
I definitely agree with everything you said - but congrats to you as well for leaving!! :)
@@roamingreina do we need references to get select in big 4 companies in canada
Nice time stamps. I love that I can only listen to the parts that I want to listen to. Great video
Thanks so much for watching the video and commenting, Stefan! My goal is to have my videos be as helpful to my viewers as possible :)
I'm not in audit but in tax. Just for 7 months. Definitely can relate to you. Once I feel no value to work in this field, I always wanted to resign.
Everything you described is exactly the same as what I went through during my 4 year stay from 2015 to 2019 in PWC.
I think it is the way of the firm, with few exceptions.
You put my thoughts into the words. Thanks for this amazing video. 🙂
Time to move on!
Glad you enjoyed it Vinay! :)
@@roamingreina thank you, you earned a new subscriber as well ;)
You are very smart for figuring this all out in your 20’s.
Thanks Julia - definitely don't have it all figured out yet but thank you for your kind words :)
Great video. I just became a senior and yeah... everyday I'm starting to question how much longer I can continue working in the environment.
Can relate to so much of this vid!!
I know!! We both had such bad busy seasons but glad that we're out of it now! :) Love your content btw Tanvi xx
Thanks for sharing, Reina! I'm in the same boat. Can you post more about your next job? I'm trying to see what other opportunities are truly out there after exiting the Big 4.
Hi Alejandra, I will be making a video soon about my new job and what I do there. Thanks for commenting 🤗
Manager at Deloitte Canada. It absolutely adds no value, the work is not analytical and even at manager level we aren't really given the chance to advise on clients other than audit/accounting related issues which the client do not care.
Hi Reina! Loved your video. It was super insightful. Could talk a little bit about the job you took up?
Thank you for the kind words. Will add that video onto my list :) Thanks for the suggestion!
You're brave. This is what we need in today's world. Honesty. That manager is representative of many others. She has her own issues.
Thanks so much Mo :)
@@roamingreina welcome...
Good for you! On to the next opportunity!
Thanks so much Brandon :)
Very inspiring. I’m in the same boat right now wondering how much longer I can endure this.
Definitely understand - sending you support and strength, Sean!
I have the same exact experience in Montreal.
I’m an industry financial analyst now and the level of anxiety is way lower and I feel like I’m truly contributing to the success of my firm.
100%!! I feel like I’m contributing and actually being valued at my new role as well! Thanks for commenting 😊
But did B4 xp help you get that job? And did you get a CPA license or equivalent?
@@Chironex_Fleckeri yeah 100% obtained new job because of my B4 experience. I recently obtained my CPA license, I was nearly done when I left B4.
Same pinch. Loved the video
Thanks Avishek :)
Why are there so many videos about why people leave these Accounting firms? Pwc Deloitte kpmg etc. Why? It's giving red flag of a company not to start a career with.
seeing as how your manager was salty, how did you manage to get her to give you a job reference for your new job?
I am on my first week in one of the big 4, still on the training process and the training already gave me anxiety and depression. Oh no, how can I survive this firm.. my contract says that I should not resign unless I had a year of service in the firm...
And that adds to my depression, like I never thought that I am too weak to be in this firm 😔
Hey Taetae - thanks for commenting. Just remember that these were my experiences and not representative of the firm - you'll be fine :) Wishing you all the best!!
@@roamingreina thankyou 🥰💖
Interesting. If you could go back and do things differently, what would you do given what you know now? I'll be finished with college soon and could use some advice on how I should proceed. I don't think I want to go through what you did but perhaps you think it is the best path overall?
I know that if I went back and did things differently, I wouldn't be in this exact place so I don't like to think about that too much. What I learnt at my time at PwC was great, it was years of experience jam-packed into a short time and the skills still serve me today. I think it was a great way to kick-start my career but I'm also grateful that I was able to make the choice to leave. Hope that helps :) Congrats on almost graduating college!
Insightful video
Thanks Armin!
On an average how many hours did you guys work?
In a couple of days I will be havign my second interview, this time it would be with a manager. If it's ok I would like you to please let me know how should I get prepared and also what were the task you were doing on a daily routine working at PWC. Thanks a lot!
Hi Omar - sorry I didn’t see this on time. Hope your interview went well 🤗
I'm about to start next week and I am already expecting these. Hopefully I will survive for at least a year.
I'm an introvert but can you give me any advise on how to communicate with the clients?
Thanks for commenting, Angela. Hope your time is going well so far at work. I'll make a video soon on that :)
Hey congratulations on the new job,I wanted to know what kind of degree would be best to land a job in B4 in Toronto, should I go for Masters in management or MSc finance, also did you had any postgrad degree?? I'm Planning to apply for next year
Thanks for commenting, Junaid! Actually planning on making a video about this soon so stay tuned 😁
I feel anyone is good, I did a post graduate certification program at Seneca college and I’m currently working at PwC. But with a masters in management, you would be a top candidate
@@shalom__f do we need reference to join big 4 companies in canada
@@radhikamatharu2026 Yes! When they will check your background, you should provide your reference information for letting them check!
Sure, I have been contacted by Pwc for an audit job, I will keep going with my actual job, it looks soo boring and stressful that is not my life
It's routine and repetitive, so it is very boring with long hours. I won't advise anyone to start a career in of these firms.
Im at pwc right now and my life is hell. I hate my teammates they treat me like a robot!! I always got sick stress and pressured. Im quitting.
I'm so sorry to hear this - good on you for choosing yourself!
Ma'am can u plz tell how to clear pWC exam
In techincal how quest are their?
How many round are their..
Hey Chaitali - I never took this exam so I wouldn't know the types of questions. Sorry!
You have to do what’s best for you
Do they paid you on the 6 month contract the exact payment $19 per hour .
Hi Cindy, thanks for commenting! I was a full-time permanent employee so I got paid an annual salary.
Great video! I have a quick question; what majors would you recommend for landing a job/internship like you when deciding at university?
Hey Sami - I studied Accounting and Financial Management but I think anything in business with a focus on accounting would be good!
@@roamingreina Do you think engineering or comp sci would be good?
Brutally honest
wow. I didn't expect it to be so bad
If you aren’t growing and learning more it’s time to go
Agreed!
Can I msg you personally?
💯
Even the Weekends are at stake sometimes :(
Definitely!
Hi, where can I connect with you? I really need someone to talk to about these things right now thanks :)
Odd offer
The companies prefer women to men because they are easy to cajole into such toxic space.
in what country and city do u work?
Toronto!
Why do you Canadians have the most attractive accents😍
Thanks Nay!
So many similar experiences and I wonder if PwC or big 4 is worth it.
I came here because of my husband. He’s been sending me these screenshots of current employees quitting and the reasons, which are the same as described in the video (being overworked, anxiety and depression). I think he’s worried. He’s starting in June. I’m trying to help him so I had to look for reviews.
My dad used to be an executive director at the Mississauga location
I just joined with PWC and it scared me a bit haha
Aw no keep in mind that this was just my experience! I know lots of people that have had better times, wishing you all the best :)
my experience is similar to Reina... hopefully your experience is different
@@roamingreina my experience is quite bad in PwC and I left now. I work for BDO.
@@abczwq8364 my experience isn’t good tbh that is why I left after a year
@@tonytran9538 I have to decide between BDO and Deloitte for September start in audit. Trying to decide whether the global name brand is worth more than a better work/life balance.
What is tge new job
Hey Michael - I made a video about my new job which you can find here: ruclips.net/video/gSFjJSNmlPM/видео.html
i am about to join PWC and this video shit scared me 😢😱
All the best for your career, Shweta. My intention with the video is not to scare people but just to share my experiences - I learnt a lot of skills and really jumpstarted my career while working there!
Very well said, you make some strong points, but you're speaking way too fast!
Thank you!! And I know, I speak really fast but I'm trying to work on slowing it down.
did you get cpa?
Yup I did!
Hello :)). Very nice Vid. I am looking to study masters in accounting for 2 years and enter one of the big4 so i can climb up the ladder in the accounting world. However, I am currently 28 with health related job background. Would you say my age could act as a barrier to land a job as a graduate and climb up the ladder?? Also, would you say accounting is a job that you have to have a natural talent in it? (eg. like music and sports). Or is it more of experience and people skill??
Thank you :)
I just got into a big 4 grad program (digital audit) a week ago and I'll be 28 next week. I've met people over 30 who's changed careers - one was a musician who switched to cyber security. So yes, you can definitely land a job.
Hi Cheol-Joo :) I think that you can switch careers at any point, it really just depends on your mindset and if you're willing to work hard enough. Good luck!!
Agreed! Thanks for commenting :)
There are a number of inaccuracies that anyone with rounded Big 4 experience would identify - it seems you didn’t have enough actual opportunities at the firm or you wouldn’t say all the work was so easy. Also, to say that you saw no value in the work makes you sound very naive and unaware of what the job actually accomplishes. Don’t get me wrong, audit is a tough gig (I myself was in audit for 5 yrs based in NYC), but you should really think about the things you say on a public forum before posting and drawing criticism (my real concern is that you provide a false picture of what PwC is and divert students that may actually like the job)
Thanks for sharing your insights, Patty! Totally understand - this was just my opinions and experiences from my time there.
If the truth paints a bad picture on the firm and may ‘divert students’ away, what does that say about PWC?
oh please Patty stop invalidating her just because you yourself were in audit for 5 years boohoo nobody cares… no smart person is going to base their entire job seeking decisions based on 1 youtube video… sit down Patty… Reina you are valid and i agree 100000% on everything and relate to you 10000%
@@ohheyguise learn the difference between valid and inaccurate. I simply noted that there are inaccuracies and did not question the validity of the experience.
@@patrickduplice3575 ... who are you to tell someone that their experience is inaccurate...?
I am planning to quit as well, I am not recent graduate and have enough experience to get other job that is more realistic with expectations and money is not so great at Pwc since this company pays less than others.
All the best - hope you get something better :)
my take based on working in consulting for 7 years.
pros; you get great exposure to many different companies / sectors. you learn and develop lots of skills including analysis and dealing with clients.
cons; its a bit of a pyramid scheme, where you are told that if you work to death, sacrifice personal life, in some instances (tell the small lies to win bids), and put up with some of the toxic environment with backstabbing colleagues, favouritism (its run by partners, and the partners are like little kings and queens, and if they like you you rise if not, no chance). you can feel like a sellable resource, when the resourcing teams try and sell you for jobs (they act almost like pimps i felt just selling me to jobs sometimes without even asking me).
for some its a great life, and it suits their personality and temperament. but i got tired of being sold to different clients as the 'expert' on something i knew little about, just because i was on the bench. i also got tired of being under pressure to deliver to unexpected deadlines that the partner had promised, working with lots of juniors who were from disparate backgrounds, emotional states, training and personal goals, to deliver something that was of high quality. sometimes there was no respect from the juniors to those below partners, as they did not see you as important in their career growth. so if you were in the middle between grad and partner, you sometimes got no respect from those above, nor from those below. but again its is very team dependant. if you are in a good team it can really be great. but most people did not want to kill themselves to be partner, and were looking to leave and join a firm in industry as a 'head of' type role.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment!
This is giving me headache. So literally, it's politics and sycophancy to work after being employed? How do we get fresh graduates to know this?