Pim started at PwC in September 2023 and is following the expert track of the Edge traineeship. After completing his bachelor's degree in Business Administration in Amsterdam, he pursued his master's degree in Finance and Investment in Rotterdam, which perfectly aligns with his work at PwC.
“PwC pays a lot of attention to personal growth, and you are in control of your own career. I found this reassuring because it gives me the freedom to develop myself in areas that are important to me.”
Why did you choose the Edge traineeship at PwC?
I chose this traineeship because to me it was important to continue developing myself even after my studies. Of course, you can also do this in a regular job, but this traineeship offers an excellent opportunity for personal development. PwC pays a lot of attention to personal growth, and you are in control of your own career. I found this reassuring because it gives me the freedom to develop myself in areas that are important to me.
Furthermore, I experienced that PwC is a people-oriented organization, where everyone is ready to support each other in order to provide the most valuable advice to clients. These expectations have proven to be completely true.
You are following the expert track: why did you choose this track within Edge?
By nature, I am an analytical person, which I could combine well with the Valuations courses during my studies. I gained the most energy from working on valuation issues, and the context of a project often didn't matter. Because I wanted to further develop myself in this area, I chose to work at Valuations & Modeling.
How was the kick-off of the Edge traineeship in Madrid?
The big kick-off together with the other trainees in Madrid was an incredibly beautiful and inspiring experience where I got to know trainees from all over the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa). Because we all went to Madrid together, a close bond was immediately formed. We now regularly exchange knowledge and experiences with each other, and my trainee group organizes many social activities, with the highlight being the trainee weekend in Friesland. This weekend was organized separately from PwC and almost everyone attended. This network is going to be extremely valuable for my career.
What does the program look like for you?
I have started in the Valuations & Modeling team, where I will be working for the first year. Within this team, I will rotate between the different industry teams within the department. Through these rotations, I can discover which industry I enjoy, see different types of valuation issues, and work with different people.
What are your tasks and responsibilities in the Valuations & Modeling department?
In Valuations & Modeling, we help companies solve their valuation issues, both in pre-deal and post-deal situations. As a trainee, my responsibilities include building valuation models, gathering the right data, processing and analyzing it, asking critical questions about this data, and writing the report.
What makes your work enjoyable?
Valuations is not an exact science but an art. We work in an environment where many uncertainties arise, which we try to incorporate correctly into our analyses. The fun part is that there is continuous discussion about the steps you take and which data you will use.
A good example of this is a recent project I worked on. We had to calculate the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) for a multinational company. This multinational company has operations all over the world and sells its products in many different countries, but this was not reflected in the WACC, which made it complicated to determine the value of the company.
The fun part is that as an associate, I have the freedom and responsibility to contribute to the solutions. These are solutions that you don't get to work on at university because the data simply isn't available. Being able to include such parameters in the analysis now is super exciting to me!
How was it to start at PwC?
Starting at PwC was a pleasant experience. Even before I began, I was invited to the annual Valuations & Modeling BBQ. This allowed me to get to know the team in an informal way. Additionally, I was assigned a buddy who helps me navigate the company and serves as the first point of contact for questions and issues. During the first two days, we received comprehensive presentations about all the systems, processes, and so on. This ensured that I didn't feel lost in the system jungle and had a handy overview of all the platforms.
What does your current team look like?
The Valuations & Modeling team is one of the largest teams within Deals. We work with about sixty people spread across five different industry teams. The team is very international, with colleagues from all over the world. This means that you are constantly in a work environment with many cultures, which I learn a lot from. I immediately felt at home in the team. Everyone, regardless of their position, is willing to help and shows genuine interest in me as a person.
Do you also do activities together outside of working hours?
With my Valuations colleagues, we have organized various padel tournaments, had drinks, and went boating on the canals in the summer. Because it's such an international team, we have a tradition of going to a restaurant from the home country of the respective colleague. So far, we have been to a Georgian, Greek, Indian, and Turkish restaurant. It's great to see the enthusiasm of my colleagues when they are served dishes they are familiar with.
What would you say to future colleagues and why would you recommend working at PwC?
Be curious and have courage. At PwC, there are endless possibilities, but it is important to take ownership. Initially, I found this to be a challenge as I tended to remain in the background. However, I am fortunate that PwC actively promotes this approach, which alleviates any feelings of being overwhelmed. Additionally, PwC is an organization that puts people first. This is remarkably pleasant as it instills the belief that PwC genuinely has your best interests at heart, which constantly motivates you to to unleash your full potential.
“As an associate, I have the freedom and responsibility to contribute to the solutions. These are solutions that you don't get to work on at university because the data simply isn't available."
