Financial Planning and Analysis Intern Review

This role offers an opportunity to cover financial planning and accounting providing a varied and excellent insight into a finance environment and the media industry. An intern’s responsibility is to support the finance team on specific and ad hoc tasks with respective action areas as appropriate including: • Responsibility for managing all affiliate data including input of data into the Excel database, building monthly analysis reports comparing actuals to forecast, working closely with the sales team to ensure information requirements are met • Monthly Dashboard preparation (PPT presentation for senior management) • Supporting in month-end processes and providing analytics as required • Completing / assisting with customer account reconciliations • Revenue forecasting and risk analysis • Ensuring quality of information in various reporting systems (SAP, BPC) • Liaising with other finance teams as appropriate • Consolidating results and preparing reports for HQ team • Completing ad hoc projects and tasks and escalating issues in a timely fashion

I have learnt a great variety of new skills as well as building on my existing ones. I have been able to use accounting principles and skills i had used at university and put these into practice. As well as this i have become extremely proficient in excel and feel comfortable solving problems, keep data stored and creating reports in this software. I have also built on my confidence for my presenting skills and how comfortable i am in building presentations.

I had daily supervision for most of the day within my first few weeks where I was taken through the processes and the nature of the work. I was given handbook and information sheets to inform myself about the company and key ‘need-to-know’ information that will help me in the role. I was also given work that wouldn’t be submitted to the systems for me to practise on and familiarise myself so that eventually I could complete this work alone and with less supervision – something that has happened. In the end my workload was sufficient and challenging enough for me to progress.

Upon joining this role, I was supervised and guided by the previous Intern as well as my manager. I had daily supervision for most of the day within my first few weeks where I was taken through the processes and the nature of the work. I was given handbook and information sheets to inform myself about the company and key ‘need-to-know’ information that will help me in the role. I was also given work that wouldn’t be submitted to the systems for me to practise on and familiarise myself so that eventually I could complete this work alone and with less supervision – something that has happened. I have daily meetings with my manager as well as a weekly 1:1 to talk about progress and issues. I also have bi-weekly 1:1’s with the manager of our FP&A team and quarterly 1:1 with the VP of finance for EMEA to also talk about these issues. The employer is happy to allow me to discuss academic issues with them and provide guidance on these.

The company culture is very social and informal but has elements of being professional at times when appropriate to be and when needed. The office environment itself is laid back and has a smart casual dress code and you never feel restrained in your own beliefs and opinions. The company has various networks to join such as Young Professionals, Black Employee Network and LGBTQ+ network also to support employees from those demographics too. Everyone is very supportive and inclusive.

It has been a pleasure to be part of the team over the past year and to learn how a major media and entertainment company works in the finance sector. I have seen a clear progression between the start to now through the way i can work on tasks independently and work towards deadlines while being part of the team. The team itself was fantastic and everything you could have wished for in terms of support and inclusivity and they were always friendly.

Yes

The main advice for others applying to this placement is to just be yourself from the way you present yourself in the CV to the interview. Being a media company the culture is very laid back and although you shouldn't be too informal in the interview it is not strict and harsh, the whole process seemed like more of an informal chat. Their main slogan for employees is 'Here you can' and it lives up to just that.