{"id":148,"date":"2026-05-21T21:34:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T12:34:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gaap-bridge.com\/?p=148"},"modified":"2026-05-21T21:42:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T12:42:54","slug":"career-interview-series-01-10-questions-with-a-big-4-auditor-at-pwc-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gaap-bridge.com\/?p=148","title":{"rendered":"Career Interview Series 01  \u2013 10 Questions with a Big 4 Auditor at PwC Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hello everyone, this is Global CPA ??<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Welcome back to the \u201c10 Questions by Profession\u201d series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think one of the things people preparing for different careers are most curious about is hearing honest stories directly from professionals currently working in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So I decided to start this interview series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the very first interview, I invited a CPA currently working in the Audit Division at PwC Korea \u2014 one of the Big 4 accounting firms and arguably the most traditional \u201cflower path\u201d within the accounting profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Could you briefly introduce yourself?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hello, and thank you for inviting me to this interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I am currently a fifth-year Senior Associate in the Audit Division at PwC Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I passed the Korean CPA exam at age 26 and joined PwC Korea\u2019s audit practice at 27. Since then, I have continued working within the audit division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My MBTI used to be ESTP, but recently changed to ESFJ ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Could you briefly explain your firm and division?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PwC Korea is one of the Big 4 accounting firms, with approximately 4,100 professionals currently working across various service lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is also the Korean member firm of the global PwC network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I currently work within the audit line of service, mainly handling companies in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>construction\/project-based industries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and B2B industries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within PwC Korea, audit divisions are separated by industry specialization, and there are also dedicated valuation teams and other specialized support groups that assist the audit practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. What are your main responsibilities right now?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an auditor, my primary responsibilities are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>statutory audit work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and PA (Purchase Price Allocation \/ advisory-related) work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Global CPA already organized the basic explanation of audit and PA work in another post ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To add a bit more detail:<br>during 2023 alone, I participated in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>9 audit engagements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and 3 PA projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compared to my peers and colleagues at my level, I think my workload is fairly average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. What made you choose this profession?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I majored in Business Administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back then, I enjoyed mathematics and struggled between choosing a science-oriented or humanities-oriented path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within business school, accounting and finance were the subjects that used numbers the most, so I naturally became interested in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Later, during a mandatory Cost Accounting class, several practicing CPAs visited as guest speakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think that was the moment I first seriously became interested in the accounting profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, I also heard:<br>\u201cIf you want to become good at investing in stocks, you need to understand financial statements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That idea pushed me even further toward becoming a CPA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. What do you enjoy most about your current job?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, I\u2019m very satisfied with my current career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most rewarding parts is visiting companies across various industries and directly interviewing operational teams during audit engagements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those opportunities to communicate with professionals from completely different industries are actually quite rare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through those interactions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I gain a broader understanding of different businesses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and the work itself rarely becomes repetitive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Originally, one reason I chose accounting was because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I liked working with numbers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and I wanted to understand financial statements better for investing purposes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201cworking with numbers\u201d part definitely still satisfies me\u2026although I have to admit that stock investing still feels difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe I still don\u2019t understand financial statements as deeply as I thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. What do you think are your personal strengths in this profession?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think there are three strengths that fit well with audit work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First:<br>I\u2019m someone who can work intensely and then properly rest afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although non-busy season has become shorter recently, audit divisions still generally allow meaningful vacation time once busy season ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even during difficult periods, I can usually endure by looking forward to future travel plans during the off-season ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Second:<br>I genuinely enjoy conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Audit work fundamentally involves listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fact, the word \u201caudit\u201d itself historically carries that meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the profession requires constant communication and interviews with clients, enjoying conversations becomes a major advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Third:<br>I genuinely enjoy traveling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Auditors spend much more time outside the office compared to many other professions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Business trips and client visits are frequent, so I think enjoying movement and travel is also a strong personality fit for audit work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. How did you prepare for this career?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Naturally, the most important preparation was studying for the CPA exam itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I first started Intermediate Accounting lectures during the first semester of my sophomore year in university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About two and a half years later, I eventually passed the CPA exam as a deferred candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since I passed relatively early \u2014 during the second semester of my junior year \u2014 I was still able to continue normal university life afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At that time, accounting firms did not seem overly focused on GPA during recruiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So instead of obsessing over school grades, I focused more on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>studying English<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and maintaining physical fitness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I had heard repeatedly that physical stamina is one of the most important virtues for auditors, so I exercised very consistently until graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. If you could return to your freshman year of university, would you choose the same career path again?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, I absolutely would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m still highly satisfied with audit work itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And even if I eventually decide audit is not the perfect long-term fit, there are still many possible paths afterward:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tax<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deal Advisory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>industry roles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and many other opportunities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So even if I returned to freshman year, I think I would still go through the audit path first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, there is one thing I would probably change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of taking easy GPA-focused electives that did not really help professionally, I wish I had spent more time learning coding and technical skills that could be applied directly in practice today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. What direction do you envision for your future career?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I still want to continue working as an auditor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More specifically, I want to become a CPA who helps Korean companies expand globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PwC Korea has international secondment programs that allow employees to work temporarily in overseas PwC offices, and I would love to apply for one of those opportunities in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ideally, I would love to work in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But even if that becomes difficult, I would still seriously consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Europe<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>or Southeast Asia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To prepare for that future, I\u2019m currently:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>attending English conversation classes on weekends<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and preparing to study for the USCPA over the next two years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. What would you like to say to students currently considering this profession?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think accounting is still a profession that many people do not fully understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most people simply think:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>accountants deal with financial statements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>perform audits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>handle taxes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and make good money.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is not completely wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But personally, I believe the accounting profession is much broader than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CPAs can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>advise companies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>record business activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>analyze operations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and audit those records.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As auditors especially, we gain opportunities to understand the entire operational process of a company almost like becoming the company\u2019s physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So for students who want to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>understand how companies truly operate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>communicate with many industries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and continuously learn from real businesses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I would definitely recommend audit work ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That concludes the very first interview in the \u201c10 Questions by Profession\u201d series with a CPA from PwC Korea\u2019s Audit Division ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some parts of the interview felt very similar to my own thoughts, while other perspectives were completely different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Honestly, I think I personally learned a lot through this conversation as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once again, thank you sincerely to the interviewee for taking the time to participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ll return soon with another career interview in the next \u201c10 Questions by Profession\u201d post ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-spectra-id=\"spectra-87be5ee7-f6d9-4fc5-8a09-0434fb2277e2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"688\" height=\"688\" src=\"https:\/\/gaap-bridge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/nova-labs-eba19ceab3a0.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30\"  \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hello everyone, this is Global CPA ?? 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