Financial Controller IP Review

Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Although I was given responsibility I never felt overly pressured and the team I worked with were very helpful and easy to talk to. This amongst additional reasons is why I am very pleased to have taken my placement at the company.

I was given real responsibilities and my opinions were always considered when sensible. Additionally I found to ease their own workloads I was often asked for assistance with tasks.

To begin I felt as though I did not necessarily lack the support I needed, but this support was not structured, this was in part due to organisational changes within the company. However once these changes were completed I found a structure was put in place which aided my development greatly. Additionally throughout the entire year I felt comfortable asking questions with all individuals involved in my support.

To begin the placement I found the daily activity was not enough, I believe this was in part due to my lack of understanding of processes which should be expected and also the organisational changes that were occurring. However once these changes were completed there was an improvement, I was also given a role to assist the design entity based in Paddington which increased my workload. By the end of the year I found that I had been given enough responsibility to keep me busy but not so much that I found it too stressful, it was the perfect quantity for me.

A lot, I was one of only two financially presences in the design entity at one point and took part in two handover procedures. I was also given a role in system changes and ran a meeting with our Spanish about a new system change. I have no doubt the team would have entrusted most things with me if they felt I had the capability/understanding and if I was willing to do it

I do not believe the skills I have learnt will assist me much with my degree (perhaps just one elective or might contribute to some indirect features of the degree) however in terms of future work places and their relevance there I think there will be great benefit. I have developed many soft skills such as my communication, am much more confident in my opinions, have gained a much better understanding of packages like excel and my understanding (which was initially non existent) of basic accounting principles has improved.

Could not complain, had no issues with any colleagues and enjoyed their company. Although there was work to be done I felt fairly relaxed working with them; nothing was ever too much trouble. My colleagues were one of the highlights of the placement.

Due to the organisational changes that occurred when I began I did find the placement wasn't quite as organised as I would have hoped, Once this settled down a structure was formed which worked fairly well for me. There is room for improvement but as the role is still fairly new I believe there will be no issue for this to improve.

There was an induction at the very beginning of the placement which covered how we should present ourselves and general business which was useful. Additionally there were classroom based courses for certain programmes/software as well as courses that may assist your communication and other skills. Within my department I was given freedom as to what I wished to do within reason out of these classroom based courses. My learning also consisted of shadowing and self development.

I would definitely consider returning to the company if a position was open there.

Although I personally did not get involved with much of the social scene with other placement students there was a committee for grads, placement students and apprentices which organised events should you wish to participate. I occasionally went out for meals with my department and joined some of them at the gym. This was more through personal choice than availability

Fairly standard, would not say overly expensive or cheap.

In Cranfield itself fairly non existent, you would have to travel to Milton Keynes or Bedford for that sort of atmosphere. It is likely that you will live in one of these areas if you were to work at NTCE anyway.

The university nearby is open to people from outside the university participating with it's teams/utilising its facilities. The company has it's own sports and social club which you can become a member of. There are of course other activities you yourself can seek out if you wish in the towns nearby.