The PwC farm

I was just reading the news that a fellow PwC alumni had just been promoted to CFO at Tesla. It was really awesome to see one of your own get the nod at one of the top tech CFO jobs. I am still overall a fan of PwC despite the fact I have been vocal in the past that I probably wouldn’t have joined PwC again if I could redo it. I learned a lot from my five years at the firm and met some amazing people there. I’ll always be fond of my time there, but it just wasn’t the right fit for myself.

I can see why that firm is a breeding ground for people in management. You join the firm and are immediately thrown into the fire on many projects. It’s really sink or swim for your first two years. The ones who make it get promoted and the ones who can’t are forced out or take easier jobs for better pay.

Those that can stick around can make Manager in 4-5 years and be in charge of up to 10 direct reports at a given time. You’re immediately thrust into meetings with executives of the biggest company in your vertical. You’re given new client and revenue goals AND have to deliver on the projects that are time sensitive. Those that can make it are given a lot of responsibility by the time they’re 28.

The next years after that are spent on working with more clients. Those that are good with clients and bring in new business will eventually make partner. The technical experts are often given the title of managing director. It’s a fairly lucrative career although many will argue that the pay does not equal the time spent working.

For as much flak I do give PwC from time to time, I do believe they do a pretty damn good job in pumping out motivated business leaders and weeding out the ones who don’t belong. That usually leaves means a solid base of hard working alums and employees.