Finance Intern Review

I worked as a home entertainment finance intern within Walt Disney Studios. The role involved various weekly, monthly and quarterly tasks to report on the performance of a physical title across EMEA. These reports would then highlight if there were updates to be made to the forecasts and how that would impact profit. I would also assist with various FP&A processes such as quarterly close, to provide comparisons with forecasted figures and actuals. Additionally, there were a range of ad hoc finance tasks to complete.

I have greatly developed my excel skills over the year, as I would spent most of my day in excel. Additionally, spending time with more experienced accountants, you pick up tips too. I have also developed my problem solving skills during the placement, as quite often there may be anomalies in the data of issues so that figures weren’t pulling through correctly, therefore I really had to think, and logically investigate these issues. I have also developed various other skills such as communication, teamwork and time management whilst completing my placement.

During my placement, I would gradually be introduced to more of the finance processes and therefore be able to contribute and support the team more. There were various tasks which it was my responsibility to ensure were completed in order to inform the rest of the team with the latest information. Additionally, many of the tasks it is your responsibility to manage your time in order to get the tasks done.

I had weekly catch-ups with my line manager, where if I had any questions I could raise these here, or discuss personal development points. Additionally, the rest of my team were really helpful with any queries I had, even about early career choices or accounting qualifications. Furthermore, there is a large intern community who you can also get guidance and support from.

It’s a really positive atmosphere, and a very ‘American’ culture who are very focused on their employee welfare. There are always numerous opportunities to get involved with different groups and events, as well as volunteering opportunities. Many of these are open to interns too, therefore you feel part of the company too. I would say that generally interns are very well respected in the company, as almost every department will have them, and I didn’t feel treated differently because I was an intern.

I really enjoyed my placement working for Disney and will miss working there. The culture and environment is really engaging, and I feel that it has provided me with a very strong foundation for my future career.

Yes

I would say that the more eager and enthusiastic you are to work for such an amazing company the better chance you would have, as it is always easier to teach people who are willing to learn and listen, than those who are not.