PWC

About PwC South Africa

PwC, short for PricewaterhouseCoopers, is a global professional services network. In South Africa, the firm offers audit, tax, consulting and advisory services. Its head office is at Waterfall City in Johannesburg. Public sources describe a team of about 5,200 people in the country.

PwC also forms part of a wider African network that spans dozens of countries. Clients range from large listed companies to government bodies and growing businesses. Because the work is so varied, the firm hires graduates in accounting, finance, data and business-related fields.

How PwC supports students

The firm's bursary support mostly targets future chartered accountants. PwC has offered bursaries to students studying towards a SAICA-accredited degree at a South African university. The goal is to guide them towards the Chartered Accountant (SA) designation.

In addition, PwC supports the Thuthuka Bursary Fund. This is a transformation project run by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. It helps African and Coloured learners who want to enter the profession. Thuthuka funding covers tuition, accommodation, books, meals and allowances, along with academic support and mentoring. PwC is one of the firms that employs Thuthuka graduates, but the programme itself is run by SAICA.

The chartered accountant route is long. It normally involves a BCom degree, a postgraduate diploma in accounting, a training contract and the SAICA board exams. A bursary can ease the financial strain during the early years, but you still need steady marks and discipline throughout. Many trainees say that exposure to different industries is the most valuable part of the training contract. Plan for the whole journey before you commit.

What to know before applying

Bursary holders are normally expected to complete their training contract with PwC after they finish their studies. In other words, the funding comes with a work-back commitment. The length and terms can vary, so read your contract before you sign it.

Entry is competitive. Strong results in Mathematics and English matter, and so do leadership, teamwork and community involvement. You should also be studying, or planning to study, a BCom Accounting degree that SAICA accredits. Not every accounting qualification leads to the CA(SA) route, so check the accreditation first.

Timing is also important. The firm usually recruits through its careers pages and through university campus events. Dates and criteria change from year to year, and these details are not confirmed here. For the most accurate information, look at the official PwC South Africa careers site and the SAICA Thuthuka pages.

Finally, apply early and prepare a clear CV. Talk to your university's career office as well, since many firms announce opportunities there first.