Finance Data Analyst Review

I enjoyed working on exciting projects that had added value to the company. I worked alongside driven individuals and made friends I plan to stay in contact with in the future. The structure of the programme was well thought out and provided me with ample opportunities to explore different parts of the business and the industry.

Prior to joining, my manager reached out and made sure I was prepared from day one. The team I was assigned to were all very welcoming and were happy to take time to discuss what they do and find out more about me. Throughout the programme they have trusted me with work that adds real value and have always been there to provide advice.

The programme started with a full day of induction presentations and activities. Once in my team, I was shown learning materials and tutorials that helped me to boost my proficiency with Excel and Power BI. My manager was very helpful and always placed value on my learning and development when I needed help.

I was given the opportunity to work on large projects that spanned multiple weeks. This meant I always had something to do and thus had to prioritise my tasks, a skill that will be valuable in my future career. I never felt overwhelmed and always had plenty to get on with.

I was given a considerable amount of responsibility and worked on important projects. I was tasked with automating financial forecasts for one of the other teams which meant I was responsible for organising meetings and delivering the project on time. Overall I believe I was given more responsibility compared with other interns but part of that is because of the team I was in.

Most importantly, I developed my communication and collaboration which are easily transferable to group projects at university and my future career. Secondly, I learned a lot about project management which I believe will serve me well when I come to write my dissertation and handle other large projects by breaking them down into achievable tasks.

The atmosphere was always very happy and welcoming. I felt as if I could approach anyone to ask for help or advice. The office is filled with natural light which I found keeps morale high and there are plenty of break areas for informal meetings and catch-ups. Overall it was a very pleasant place to work.

The graduate talent recruitment team did a fantastic job organising the placement and events throughout my time. There were development days where all of the interns across different parts of the business all got together for team building activities. We were assigned to teams across the business and had clear goals to work towards.

The company invested heavily in me, with my first week mainly focussed on building my technical skills and software proficiency. Centrica organised development days that taught us about teamwork and developed our social skills which I found very useful. Throughout the placement my manager would introduce me to new concepts and ensured I was always learning.

There are many opportunities to go into different parts of the business through the graduate scheme. After speaking with various heads of departments, there are clear opportunities to progress quickly and many of my colleagues had worked in different divisions before moving around.

Centrica provided accommodation at Royal Holloway University nearby which meant that we were all together in the evenings. There was something happening nearly every night, whether that was organising a football game or going to the pub. The social scene was great and incredibly supportive.

Situated just outside of the M25, Windsor is relatively expensive by UK standards but not compared with central London.

I prefer going out for a drink to going out for the night, and there are many pubs and restaurants along the river Thames and surrounding our accommodation.

Centrica supports Carers UK and each year the summer interns organise a variety of fundraising activities outside of their work duties. Combined with the sports facilities at Royal Holloway, there was plenty to do.