Finance Year in Industry Review

I work in a finance team that deals with consolidating financial statements. On a day to day basis, I have Teams meetings with business partners and look at project budgets, forecasts etc... My responsibilities are similar to others in the team, I'm treated as a big part of the team. Producing files with financial information to send to stakeholders and looking into Network Rail's asset efficiencies.

Excel skills are top of the list, writing formulas, fixing errors and going through processes. I understand the rail industry and the issues needed to overcome within the industry. Team work - within finance, you have to work with loads of collagues to get your own work done and help others get theirs and its about communicating information you have or what you need effectively. Working to a schedule and taking responsibility for your own work.

I was given my own projects to deal with, I was able to attend high level meetings and always included in discussions. I would be given projects to develop excel files and teach others how to do the processes that I do. I was made to feel equal in the team and given meaningful work to do, whilst learning skills at the same time.

I was given a mentor when I started in my team and once I became confident, my support came from my line manager and my team supported eachother. I work with graduates who became a point of call for learning and support as they were a step ahead of me in terms of career stage. Everyone I have dealt with in the company has been super supportive in my personal development.

Very welcoming culture. I was apart of the diversity and inclusion part of the business that held talks on many aspects of diversity. My team was very diverse but I do know that Network Rail as a whole has been working on inclusion as there has been issues with this. Not many social events outside of work but team lunches are great!

I loved my team, my personal development and exposure to the company. I really enjoyed my placement and am grateful to have had this opportunity.

Yes

Think about why network rail is where you would want to work as oppose to other companies. Really apply yourself to questions in interviews and be confident and open to learning, you are not expected to know everything but are expected to use what you know to make an educated guess.