Fired PwC accountant’s parting shot rant is internet hit

A sacked City accountant has become an internet sensation after sending a departing email ranting against his colleagues, bosses and the office decor.

Gareth Jenkins was fired by PricewaterhouseCoopers after failing to pass the Institute of Chartered Accountants' exams, known as ACA.

Before he left, the trainee chartered accountant, fired off a vitriolic parting shot to colleagues at the company that was quickly forwarded on and has now gone global.

In his email, he ridiculed his co-workers, the firm's training programme, office decor and use of corporate jargon.

Mr Jenkins opened his email farewell with: "This is an emotional email for me to have to send. The tears are flowing.

"Today is my last day at PwC. I haven't sent this to everyone because what would be the point? Why do people send their leaving emails to everyone? We didn't care about you then and we certainly don't care about you now.

"I still presume hardly any of you knew me, which is good because I'm rubbish at audit, so I wouldn't have helped your stellar careers."

It is believed that Mr Jenkins joined the Big Four auditor three years ago as a university graduate.

He would have been earning up to £30,000 as a trainee chartered accountant on a three-year training contract.

On his final day at work, he explained: "I'm leaving because I failed the exams and now I have to leave. I hope to pursue a career as a mudlark down Limehouse way or possibly as one of the more well-dressed tramps."

He told how he learned how to "fake" understanding of elements of the ACA course, known as Steps', saying: "It is not a total loss, however.

"I shall take away some special Skills from PwC, courtesy of our Bespoke Training and Blue Sky whatever. I have learnt how to fake Steps exceedingly well.

Mr Jenkins then turned his fire on the decor at his City office, saying: "I've also learned how not to decorate an office - green and orange block colour walls with business buzz phrases on. Find your space', always add value' etc. Where do these terrible phrases come from? Is there a team of people lurking about in Embankment Place whose only duty is to pump out corporate drivel?"

Mr Jenkins was equally scathing about events attended by PwC chiefs.

He said: "I look forward immensely to never having to attend an event in which Our Beloved Leaders stand up and tell us we've massively exceeded budget, so in reward we get no bonuses and instead we get the treat of listening to Coldplay while quotes from the greatest leaders of our times are played across a screen."

The email spread like wildfire after it was forwarded to City workers inside and outside the firm by a senior associate in PwC's banking and capital markets department.

It has since gone as far afield as Singapore with readers describing the contents as "hilarious".

A PwC spokeswoman said: "It is an email from a candidate who has failed his exams and has had to leave the firm.

"At the end of the three years, we look at their performance over the three years very carefully and if they have not met the required standard, they would be asked to leave."

She declined to comment on Mr Jenkins' criticisms of the firm, saying: "Everybody is entitled to their opinion."