Partly thanks to reading all the threads in this Forum, I have got an job offer (Consultant) from PWC PIC-FE. I have a few questions which I hope people in this forum can give me some advice before I accept this offer.I have been working in a FTSE100 Blue-chip Engineering company (Finance Graduate shceme)for 3 years after obtain a BSc and a MSc from two UK top Uni. I recently qualified as ACMA. My questions:1. Will 3-years in Industry be seen as a significant experiences? Will joining PWC at this time look good on my CV? 2. My plan is to attend a TOP MBA in 3 years time. Will joining PWC improve my chance to get a place? 3. How is the reputation of PWC PIC in the consulting industry? What is the culture of it? and what is the future plan of this practice?4. Is the normal weekly working hours reasoanable (50-60 hours) or demanding (70+)? 5. What proportion of travel involved? and how is company's travel policy?Thank you very much in advance for any advice.

Well done on getting the job offer. But why PWC? It would help answering your question to know what other companies you applied to.

Senior Partner, Thanks for your reply! I have applied a few positions mainly in three categories: Management Consulting (Big 4), Investment Banks (Cost/Product controller) and Commercial/Industry (Management Accountant/Finance Manager)After a few interviews, I found I do not quite enjoy the Controller job in Banks although it offers a higher salary. I also want to get out of Industry (There is no big different from my current job and I am doing well in my current company) therefore I finally choose Consulting, which I will enjoy the challenging job and various projects.Within Consulting, I also got interiews from EY and Accenture. (KPMG and Deloitte are in process) But my agent told me none of these companies will not offer a better package than PWC and the culture and client base in PWC is much better and wider. And I like the PWC people I met at the interview. So I didn't attend the interviews with EY and Accenture.Another reason is that I have used out my holiday quotes (I need to take a day off for a interview in London since I currently work in Midland). I have to make a choice now.After all, I think if I can successed in PWC then I will be able to move to other company after a few years at a higher level. Is this a correct move?Many Thanks!

1) It's a suitable move at this stage in your career and a typical background for moving into PIC as a junior hire. Beyond that, "looking good" on your CV is subjective - it all depends on what you want to do with your career.2) It won't harm your chances of getting onto an MBA programme, and you could realistically aim for a top 20 UK progamme / top 100 global programme. Lots of people from PwC do MBA's of various standards, reflecting the diversity of staff there.3) It has a solid reputation, although most consultants wouldn't consider PIC a consulting operation - more an assurance/advisory operation. The culture is solidly PwC - professional if unexciting, competitive if uncreative. Nobody got fired for buying PwC services, to coin a phrase.4) Anecdotally, typical PIC hours are under 50hrs/week. If you do 55hrs, you're having a bad week.5) Low. London/Home Counties based. Each PwC office services its own locale. In the South-East the high density of offices means you never have to go far. Travel policy is standard - reimbursement for economy class rail travel, booking through PwC systems, etc.

Newsinbrief, thanks for comments. It sounds like a little bit diferent from what the partner told me in the interview. But it is always good to set the expextation low and if it went on better afterwards, that is called lucky. But I am definitely aiming myself at Europ top 5 MBA now.How does PWC compared with other other Big 4 consultancy and Accenture? Is it any better/worse in terms of culture of company and excitiment of project?Many Thanks!

What kind of culture do you want to work within?What kind of culture are you accustomed to?What kinds of projects do you find exciting? What are you interested in?

can anybody provide me some insider view on this practice in PWC? Thanks!

PWC? I know the team there very well. At the level you are entering they will provide you a very solid foundation before entering the MBA programme. The client base is Consumer Products, which is a very good sector to be in for future prospects. Culture is good and fun. I would recommend joining there. The partners that head up PIC FE are very inspiring. Good luck

Oldhack, Thank you very much for your advice. It sounds like you are very familiar with this practice. Any suggestions on how to do well in the first consulting engagement?I have almost made up my mind to put my name on the offer now just waiting for some confirmation on relocation cost, etc. Thanks again to everyone!

Hi, I'm in similar position (finance grad scheme with FTSE consumer goods) and I'm also considering the move. Can I ask you on which level you're enetring PwC and the approx. salary range?

Congrats on the offer. What kind of renum are you expecting/being offered?

Grad/Mongo,I was offered a basic salary 0f 40k plus Standard Benefits plus Bonus (5%-9%). I think this is inline with the salary survey I found at Top-Consultant.com. It is not a very attractive offer in terms of the moeny. I got an offer much higher than this from an IB. But I think this job sounds a lot more interesting than the IB back office job.Hope ths help!

Thx for info. Did you join on Executive level?

yes, it is called executive in the offer letter.

yes, it is called executive in the offer letter.

Hi, I've an interview coming up for a graduate position with PIC and was wondering whether there were any developments within PIC or PWC Advisory in general that I should be aware of?Thanks.

Yes I have an interview coming up for PWC PIC too any advice on current projects and issues would be fab!!

any insights about the government and public services team and work?PwC seem to be actively recruiting and some attention has come my way, grateful for any latest culture info

Yes! Any insight into the Govt and Public Sector division at PWC would be greatly appreciated as I've just been offered a role within that sector and have no idea what to expect.ThanksT

I'm joining this thread late in the day, but wanted to add a little in-house perspective on this. I've been in PIC from the start and now been in the firm 7 years.The travel with PIC can be 100%. I've worked on project all over Europe catching the 7am flight out on a Monday and getting back on Friday evening. If you work in FS travel is generally less, and TICE is predominantly in the UK, but CIPS have to cast their net very wide. If you are comfortable with this level of travel, then you will enjoy what is a varied and exciting role. Many grow tired of such travel demands over time and unfortunately the recruitment process is not up front about these requirements. If you are resourced on a job, you have to go and do it - there's no opportunity to get out of it if you don't fancy Austria for 6 months.Salary bands - these are guarded very tightly, but broadly with an ACMA, 40k you look to be cheap for us right now. Exec level is broad and covers the odd graduate with a little professional experience (starting on around 30k). Broad pay scales:Exec: 30-45Consultant: 42-58 (plus 3k options, plus 5k car, plus potential of bonus. Bonuses are rubbish though - 5k absolute tops)Senior Consultants 55-??? Rumours of really experienced SC's on 100k package, but this is probably pushing it a bit.Directors - Do very nicely thank youPartners - Average UK Partner took home about 500k last year!! I'd say that if you knuckle down you might be considered for promotion to Consultant in 2010. You'd be an exception if you were considered in your first year. Promotions are decided upon around May, but process starts in Feb. With respect to your MBA aspirations, you will easily be able to take 1-2 year break after 3 years in the job (I'd do it just after you get promoted), but you will never get it supported financially within PIC (one chap in Strategy got about 20% of his fees paid, but he was a superstar).Hope this helps. Well done for asking the right questions. Good luck.

Tarzan,G&PS gets a bit of a rough time from the rest of PIC as we are in the 'real' world, but the benefits are that the jobs tend to be long and more local than the other parts. Pay bands vary a little between MU's, but not that much. The only downer is that you have to work with clients who maybe aren't as 'juicy' as in the other parts of the business - a housing association in leicester doesn't set the pulse racing does it?!Sound business, but cut-backs in Govt spending are starting to hurt. You'd be safe though - they cut the SC's and C's with no potential first.

1: 3 years in industry is not a lot of experience - but that doesnt matetr - PwC will put you in a suitable role in their practice based on your experience and expertise; hours of work vary depending on the project deadlines there may be travel but this is positive - you experience different cultures and working environments. why do you want an MBA? the bottom line is that PwC is a blue chip consulting firm and your experience with them will be invaluable - you will learn a lot more there.

Once you join a sector within PIC are there any opportunities to move into another sector or are you essentially stuck?

when you get your top MBA, i'd advise moving to MBBB...best of luck

cheers for the insight and salary levels, i was offered an interview with the partner for g&ps recently but decided not to go for it as the salaries being talked about were too good to believe, you breakdown just confirmed that for me.

Errr... the salaries were too good to believe??I don't understand what you mean. Do you mean that they were paying so much you thought there must have been some kind of "catch", so you decided not to go for it? If so, what did you think the "catch" was?

basically it seemed unrealistic and probably a result of the recruiters talking up the role more than they shouldthe salary bands confirmed that back to me and saved me the time and effort for something that would not tick all the boxes

Hello,common practice, that recruiters tell you after reviewing your cv, that you are senior/manager level with attractive sal. band, but when it comes to showdown at former employer, in some cases they´ll see you in a more decent light. You should always align expectations with the contact in potential new company...my 2 cents

<u>Clarification required:</u>"but when it comes to showdown at former employer, in some cases they´ll see you in a more decent light."What does that mean?Thank you.

I mean, that the interview with an recruitment consultant can lead to another result (e.g. naming you are able to stand a manager role) because of flippancy (not in all cases) and on the other hand, when the people of your prospective employer interview you, they could say, that you´ll be sorted in a senior con. role...Because figures of merit are not the same for the recruitment consultant and the prospective employer.

Hi - does anyone have any knowledge experience of the People and Change practice, FS, within PWC at senior consultant level?-culture-hours-pay-progression-travel involvedmany thanks