PwC is well known among Malta’s student population as a leading firm when it comes to investing in students and their development. An important component of this is PwC’s CareerDeal programme, which is dedicated to University students reading for their Master in Accountancy degree. The programme is one of the firm’s most popular and successful student programmes and one which confirms PwC’s ongoing commitment towards the development of tomorrow’s leaders.
This year, PwC is celebrating the 10th intake into the programme. Through this programme and other student programmes, the firm has since recruited and trained over 400 students.
The CareerDeal programme supports accountancy students throughout their university studies and ensures a seamless transition into the profession upon completion of their degree. It is designed to equip students with the values and work ethics which define what PwC is all about: building relationships, enhancing values and collaborating.
The programme is made up of simple stepping-stones and is aligned to every stage of a student’s progress at university. The highlights of the programme include business skills sessions (designed to complement a student’s technical skills acquired at university) and involvement in a variety of initiatives including project work and community work through the firm’s collaboration with Din L-Art Ħelwa.
The programme offers students a tutorial programme, assistance with their dissertation in their final year of studies as well as extensive on-the-job experience during which students are given the opportunity to rotate each of PwC’s different lines of service: assurance, tax, advisory and company accounting and administration services. This rotation allows students to get exposure to the firm’s broad range of services and to taste life at PwC across the board. A personal coach is assigned to each student in order to support the student’s individual progress.
The time, effort and cost attributable to running these student programmes is regarded by PwC as an investment in the students’ professional development. Student programmes are considered to be an integral part of PwC’s corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Student programmes are an excellent source through which PwC identifies, nurtures and develops the next wave of PwC talent. The recruitment efforts and the ongoing investment required to keep student programmes relevant and alive, portray a long-term and distinctive approach adopted by PwC. Over the last 10 years, the firm has kept the PwC CareerDeal programme creative and innovative, ensuring it meets the ever-changing needs and interests of the firm and students alike.
PwC acknowledges that while the millennials (those born roughly between the 1980s and the early 2000s) may be motivated by different factors to earlier generations, a common element between the older and more recent students and graduates is that they still thrive on the idea of working with a leading professional services firm in Malta. Students and graduates recognise the opportunities PwC presents them with and strongly feel that at PwC, they can reach their full potential.
“Adapting to change was never easy for me. However the programme’s structure facilitated my transition from university student life to life at PwC. The CareerDeal programme is an excellent kick start to your career,” said James Psaila, who participated in the fifth round of the CareerDeal programme.
“My CareerDeal experience gave me an exposure to the accounting profession which education alone does not provide, helping me apply practical accounting to my studies. I strongly recommend the programme,” said Aida Cachia, from the seventh round of the CareerDeal programme.
“The PwC CareerDeal Programme is a great way of bridging the gap between student life and your professional career, at a pace which doesn’t compromise your studies. It offers students the opportunity to improve their professional skills, before actually entering the work place on a full time basis. I am really enjoying PwC’s programme,” said Maria Farrugia, who participated in the eighth round of the CareerDeal programme
The CareerDeal programme is just one of the programmes PwC offers to students. PwC also has opportunities for students seeking to obtain their ACA or ACCA qualification, as well as offering student programmes for Law and IT students.
For more information, students can contact PwC on mt-recruit@mt.pwc.com.