Finance IP Review

It was very enjoyable, in the variety of work and meeting lots of new people.

Everyone was very welcoming when I first started. We were given a 'buddy' and had dinner with them in the beginning so that you had someone to look after you! My buddy was very lovely and invited me round for dinners with her family. The rest of my team were all very approachable and I didn't feel like a placement student, but felt like part of the team instantly.

Some managers were very supportive and approachable in helping me with questions I had or if I needed help with an aspect of work or project I was given. However, in some of my roles, it was more of an independent working style so I didn't feel I had much support, especially around month-end. I expected this though, being in accounts, as it is understandable that everyone is busy doing their own work. As long as you feel happy to ask for help or support, its absolutely fine.

Being in accounts, it is expected that you will have busy times and quiet times, which is absolutely fine. However, when I was given project work, rather than an actual role in audit or general ledger, the days could drag slightly as the structure was a bit over-the-place. If you are happy to ask for work when you don't have anything to do, or need help if you have too much, then you will do absolutely fine!

The responsibility I was given was absolutely invaluable. In the audit department, I would help on external audits, travelling around the country and would be trusted and relied upon to help as fully as possible. Work would sometimes be briefly checked but after a while, once trust and knowledge was built up, it would be my own audit findings that would be used when clawing back monies. This was very satisfying and the experience invaluable. It was very similar in when I had the role as a general ledger analyst. I would be doing exactly the same tasks and role as everyone else in the department, without needing to be checked I was doing it correctly. This would be doing VAT returns, bank reconciliations, month end duties and much much more. Absolutely excellent experience though.

As well as all the skills of actually learning the new roles such as auditing and general ledger analsying, I learnt some invaluable skills. For example, I brushed up on my Excel skills due to using it on a daily basis. I also learnt how to write a professional letter to companies, mainly in audit when writing to the dealerships about audit findings. We also had 4 training days throughout the year, which were very fun but information too. These included things such as presentation skills and practise, working with other people including managers and colleagues, dealing with change in the workplace and lots of team work/ team building with the other placement students. It was also very helpful learning how booking-keeping and financial accounting are used in the working world. For example, at university, when we learn about debits and credits and journals, it is very methodical because you have to do step by step. In the working world, it is very different because you use an accounting package so alot is linked together when a journal is entered, it is automatically updated. Mainly with this placement though is that you will receive so much variety, not only in the two different placements, but much more within these too.

I had the experience of two different atmospheres within the company, with both of my placements. One was much more relaxed and calm, whereas the other was much more 'buzzy' and had more going. Both were very good and welcoming though, and it was great to experience both sides of it.

It was very well set up for my placement, because I knew I was having two different placements. As soon as you arrive, you have a week of induction, in which they tell you where you will be for the first 6 months. It seemed well planned and thoughtout.

They invested well, both financially in receiving a good wage for a placement year. But also in terms of training days, and including us on company things, such as works Christmas Party.

It seems that the company really look after their staff and people are valued, which shows as people have been with the company usually for a long time and long term. For a graduate, the scheme is very well organised and you have the opportunity to move further up through the company.

I lived with 3 other placement students working for PSA and we socialised with eachother alot. We arranged bowling, nights out, meals, etc, to spend time as a larger group too. I was very much included as part of the team with my colleagues and they took me under their wing and looked after me! I went round friends/colleagues houses for dinners and drinks, and included on birthday nights out etc. If you make the effort, you will be very welcomed!

It was very cheap but pick a good area before you rent somewhere in Coventry though... always good and bad in cities! But very inexpensive rent, even for nice areas.

In Coventry itself, it wasn't very lively but there are a couple of bars/clubs and nice pubs. However, Leicester, Nottingham and Birmingham are all nearby!

If you make the effort to get involved, you will find much to do!