Balance Sheet Analyst Review

My internship has been a very good experience for me. I have enjoyed this because it has enabled me to see how the theory which I have studied within my degree fits into the real world of business. Due to the real responsibility which I have been given within this opportunity, I have been able to become very engaged with the work which I have been completing.

In the first few weeks, I was slightly concerned that even though I felt that I was completing work to a high standard, I did not feel people were noticing this. However, once people began to provide comments and praise for what I was completing, I began to feel that i was a valuable member of the team because they were taking up their time to provide me with feedback.

I feel that I was able to be quite independ in fulfilling my role during my placement. This was quite beneficial to me because I prefer to try to solve problems for help. However, I have always felt that if I needed to approach my manager for help, I would always be able to. It is also useful to utilise team members knowledge whilst here.

By the end of my placement I felt that I had a very good level of work, that did not excessively pressure me. However, during the first few weeks I did feel slightly bored, as there was not that much work to do. This may be an individual issue however because my manager was under a lot of pressure during these first few weeks.

I was shocked by this. After reading the reviews myself, everyone would say that they had been given a lot of responsibility, but i was doubtful of this because I would only be an intern. However, in all work situations I was treated equally to other colleagues, and people would trust me to complete real tasks, and they would rely on me to produce results. This responsibilty enhanced my experience greatly.

The skills which I have developed here are very useful and varied. Being in a finance role, I have gained lots of experience using spreadsheets, which is essential for any finance or accounting role. This will be useful in all aspects of my future. I have also built up my communication skills, through speech training, and also team working, which are both essential in a problem solving role. I have gained many valuable skills which will definitely stay with me throughout my career.

I enjoyed the atmosphere within my office. It was a very relaxed office which was a nice environment to work in. Within the office, everyone was always friendly, and it was a very modern office. It was also a very secure building to be based in, which reassured you that all your belongings, and you would be safe.

There was a good structure which was set up for our 10 week internship. We had an induction on the first day which allowed the graduate team to ensure that we were all informed about what our schedule would contain. We were provided with an induction booklet which included all events and important dates. We also had reviews with our managers (middle & end) so we could develop and improve.

Whilst here, I undertook various training courses and events. I had attended two Excel training classes which taught me the basic uses of the software which was very essential for completing my role. I also had a training session on how to speak to large groups, which was a very interesting course. There were also various team building events and plenty of feedback provided on any tasks which were undertaken.

I think that the graduate scheme for the finance stream appears to be very appealing, and the summer placement is a prerequisite. I have opted to be considered for the scheme next year based on how my placement has been. During the last week, all interns complete a presentation on their placement, and some undertake interviews, which are both taken into account with your managers review. I am still waiting on my decision, so all I can do is hope.

Yes! It was an extremely social internship. We were all provided with accomodation which resulted in us all living together in university halls. This side of the internship was a great experience because we all became great friends and built solid relationships. It also allowed us to engage in many social activities outside of work. The graduate team also provided some organised events which were great fun.

Due to our accomodation being paid for, it was quite cheap when compared with other internships. I did find it slightly more expensive than home, but after living in Wales everywhere will seem expensive. The fact that our accomodation was paid for was great because it always left more than enough money for an extravagant lifestyle whilst living here.

There were clubs at Windsor, which was a slight travel from where we lived in Egham, but easily reachable in a taxi. There were a few pubs around the area which regularly showed sports, and most served food, so there were a few options depending on what you liked. It was also possible to venture into London, which I did not but other interns did. But realistically, you build such good friendships, you'll have a good time wherever you go.

Yes, there are many social opportunities for us to get involved in. There were plenty of lunchtime and evening sports activities, and we were also invited to many of the social events with the graduates who were already on the graduate scheme. This ranged from bbqs, to evenings out for drinks.