Finance Industrial Placement student Review

My role mainly consisted of project work with a bit of regular work such as performing analysis of financial data (budgets, actuals etc.) on Excel and performing calculations to show trends, do reconciliations, identify variances and so on, plus creating visuals like line graphs, pie charts etc. to accompany my analysis. Regarding the project work, I'd develop data visualisation tools for R&D finance colleagues that are easy to understand and manipulate to support better informed data driven decision making within the business. I did this using Microsoft tools such as Power BI, Excel, and others. I would also have to maintain the tool I created, fix technical issues and assist managers and finance partners regarding how to use the tool, and also develop them further by adding adjustments or changes. Other project work included creating financial data consolidation methods on Excel, or working with Capital Expenditure projects to implement data visualisations reports for them too. In general, I would support the Research Finance organisation in monthly, quarterly and yearly planning processes, including the preparation and update of templates and management reports, build relationships with key stakeholders, take part in several meetings, support the organisation of monthly Research Investment Board previews and other recurring reviews with senior finance stakeholders, and propose new innovative ideas to help finance better support the R&D organisation.

Problem solving, analysis, decision making, innovation, leadership, project management, teamwork, time management, Excel and other data systems, critical thinking skills, communication, adaptability

Yes, in some of the projects I worked in, I would lead and manage them. That would include having to create timelines for when to meet certain targets and actions. In about 3 of the projects, I would be the one responsible in assisting with queries and guiding people more senior than me, on how to use tools I created for R&D Finance.

I received good levels of support, people are very approachable and happy to help. I would reach out to several senior colleagues when I knew my line manager was very busy, so there is lots of help available. You could reach out via Microsoft Teams and organise meetings/calls.

Very positive, people like I said are happy to help if you need it, but they are also there to be friends and acquintances with. There are lots of socials to be involved in. It's also easy to network and meet others to learn more about their roles. In general there is a very positive atmosphere. There is also a lot of diversity and appreciation for people of different backgrounds.

I enjoyed it a lot, I felt I was given a lot of responsibility and was given the chance to hone a lot of skills necessary for a career in finance, and it taught me a lot. I found the work engaging and challenging, and I believe the opportunity to network also taught me a lot about what I wanted my career to look like.

Yes

As time goes on, learn to be more independent even if you are able to receive a lot of help, as you will be trusted with more responsibility. Learn to be comfortable at leading and managing projects and being held accountable for their timelines and targets. Also be proactive and seek to find ways to improve processes and make work better, and not just when you're told.