1. It is definitely not a "normal" environment. It's a partnership, which is like working for multiple different corporations at the same time. Each line of service has a different way they want things done. It can be very challenging to actually be successful in the "normal" sense of the word.
2. HIGHLY political. Actually getting your job done and doing it well is one of the smallest factors on what PwC sees as successful. If you are NOT good at glad handing and sucking up, and think you should be judged on REAL accomplishments, you may be disappointed.
3. Everything is "guidance". It's very difficult to get management, on the business side or the IT side, to make real decisions. They talk A LOT, but they commit to very little.
4. Worst level of technology I've seen in the Tampa area. They love to have all the high tech gadgets, but don't utilize what they HAVE effectively. They get distracted by the latest buzzword, latest methodology, and the latest gadget.
5. Environment. Their "new" building is a call center environment. The buzzword is "collaborative". This means no privacy, no quiet place to work, no assigned work area (let alone a work station). The phone is an IP phone on the laptop, which is nice when it works. You "hotel" to reserve a work station, but the hoteling system is so poor that you can check out other people without their knowledge. If you do reserve a place, chances are someone will sit in it, and you're out of luck.
5. Seven years ago, PwC fired almost all of their IT staff, and were shocked when many of them didn't reapply for their jobs. Their plan was to go to the "offshore" model. It didn't work out and they hired on shore contractors and employees. With the new CIO (Sigal Zarmi) they are doing the same thing AGAIN.
6. Compensation is what you're hired on at. Raises and bonuses are minimal. Be aware, HR will lie to you. I was told they couldn't pay me what I wanted because it would put me over mid-point. I was actually well-below mid-point.
7. LOTS of back stabbing and whining from the business to IT management. IT management is NOT supportive. They apparently get judged on making the business "happy" (impossible, by the way), not on getting things done efficiently, in budget or on time.
I would NOT recommend taking a job with them. Contract to them and get paid for every hour you work. The work remote and flexibility will be out the door based on history, and it's the only real thing that makes them a great place to work.
