Tong Yu (Leo)
2017 Banking and Finance MSc graduate Leo is a Consulting Associate at PwC in Beijing, China.
Since graduating, what have you gone on to do?
After graduating from Newcastle University, I returned to China and interned at a private equity firm for four months. I was then offered a place on PwC’s trainee programme in Beijing. This gave me the opportunity to work across various service lines including Assurance, Management Consulting, and Deals.
Is the above what you planned to do before starting university?
Yes. Joining one of the Big Four firms after graduation was always my goal.
What was your favourite thing about your course?
It was a very comprehensive programme, covering everything I needed to enter the financial industry in China.
Were you involved in any extra-curricular activities during your time here?
I took part in an internship programme run by the Business School, where I worked at a local bank with students from other universities. It helped me build teamwork and time management skills and gave me useful insight into the finance industry.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Still planning! I’m figuring out the best path for my future.
How do you see future technologies and new ways of working (Future of Work) affecting your sector?
I’m currently working on a project that uses Python to process and automate large volumes of client data. Automation and data processing are already transforming the consulting sector.
“Since there is a new policy for international students' T4 visa, my suggestion is to find internships related to your career goals while still in the UK. It’s very useful when looking for jobs in China.”
(Interview carried out in 2021)