Robin is an Associate in Assurance at PwC Switzerland, based in the Aarau office. Having first connected with PwC through two career events, he went on to join the firm shortly after, and today even helps organise one of them himself. Read on to hear how his journey unfolded.
1 Tell us about yourself and your journey at PwC Switzerland so far.
I joined PwC Switzerland almost two years ago and am part of Audit Assurance in our Aarau office.
My journey at PwC Switzerland began with an internal course in the mountains as part of my onboarding. This provided all Assurance Associates with a unique opportunity to start building both technical knowledge and professional networks from day one. Shortly afterwards, my first busy season started. It was intense and sometimes pushed me to my limits, but it was also a period in which I learned an enormous amount both professionally and personally.
After that first busy season, I began my studies towards becoming a Swiss Certified Public Accountant. The trust that PwC and the people around me have placed in me has been a defining part of my journey.
2 For someone who doesn't know much about Audit Assurance, how would you describe what you do on a day-to-day basis, and how did you find your way here?
At its core, Assurance is about trust. Companies prepare annual financial statements that are used by many different stakeholders. Our role is to independently assess the financial statements and provide confidence that they are free from material errors.
In our day-to-day work, we speak with clients to understand their business and processes, analyse financial information, perform audit procedures, document our conclusions, and discuss our findings with both the client and our own team. The role combines financial knowledge with analytical thinking, professional judgement, and communication.
My own journey into Assurance began while studying at the FHNW - University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. Finance-related subjects were among my strengths and the areas I enjoyed most. PwC career events, particularly an Audit Workshop in Zurich and the Inside Day in Aarau, then gave me a practical understanding of the profession. Today, I help organise the Inside Day myself, which means I now have the opportunity to introduce students to Assurance from the other side.
3 You first connected with PwC through our career events. What made you decide to attend, and how would you advise students to make the most of it?
PwC had a strong presence at career events at my university, which is how I became aware of the Audit Workshop in Zurich and the Inside Day in Aarau. I was hoping for an honest and realistic insight that would help me determine whether both the profession and PwC would be a good fit for me.
Before attending, I read about PwC and the role of the audit profession, though students should not feel they need to understand everything before signing up. These events are designed precisely for people who are curious and want to learn more.
My main advice would be to stay for the networking session and speak with as many people as possible. The most meaningful insights often come from the personal conversations that follow.
"Most importantly, be yourself. Have the courage to ask genuine questions and let people see your interest. You do not need to impress anyone with perfect answers. Authentic curiosity usually leaves the strongest impression."
4 Was there a specific moment or conversation at the event that made you think "this is the right place for me"?
The Audit Workshop was a very distinctive experience. At the time, none of the other big firms offered a comparable event that provided such a close look at the day-to-day work of an auditor. For me, it presented PwC in a different light: as a market leader that was also highly approachable and genuinely interested in engaging with students.
The Inside Day in Aarau then added the personal dimension. Alongside the technical insights, it gave me the opportunity to get to know several people and have inspiring conversations with them. The atmosphere felt right, and I could picture myself working with the people I had met. That was the moment when it became clear to me that I wanted to join PwC.
An application followed that same week. Although I later received offers from PwC and two other big firms, the decision was already clear.
"The decisive factor was the people I had met and the positive feeling I associated with PwC. In the end, that personal connection made the difference."
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