Finance Analyst Review

Very much so. There were so many opportunities to learn more and I was never bored within my role. Boots is a company which has a very well structured Year In Industry scheme, so theres always something new to do. There were 9 other placement students and so our social circle was very tight. It made our experience within the office and outside the office very enjoyable as we often arranged nights out and also lunched together every other day. Having other people in the same boat as yourself is key when joining as you can share your experiences, and feel a lot more comfortable within the company.

Very valued and treated the same as existing colleagues, as soon as I joined. It was a real role and not just making tea or coffee and doing admin work. My job was that of a Finance Analyst and I was treated as such.

Whenever I needed help and support with a certain task or issue, my managers were always there to offer a hand. This comes with the culture of Boots in that they are a very people-oriented company, and

Working in Finance, I was busier during the 'month-end' periods (week before the end of the month, and first week of the following month). This is where most tasks took place and in general working hours are longer. Throughout the month there are busier and calmer periods, but that is the nature of the role, dependant on how much work you have taken on or if there are people on holiday within the team.

I was given a lot of responsibility in both of my Finance roles. At Boots there are opportunities to take as much responsibility as you want, as long as you can manage the workload and to a good standard. There is scope to take part in the organisation of charity events and other workplace events, which gives a good balance to work/social life. It also allows your network to be extended as you will work with people who you wouldn't interact with within your day job, so taking extra responsibility is very important!

The skills that I have gained at Boots, both professionally and personally, will be with me for life. I have learnt far more this year than I thought before I started at the company, and all of these are transferable into my final year at University and also when I start working again after my degree. The amount of time that Boots colleagues put in to assist you in gaining skills is fantastic, and the extra courses available to employees are thorough and essential to get onto.

The general atmosphere within the office at Boots is positive. This in general is reflected when something big happens in the company, such as if a new scheme is introduced or there has been a big profit. The company does a lot to make sure its employees are happy, however after some recent events it could do more to keep the faith within colleagues. Positive employees = better results.

The placement was very well organised. We were given a structure for the year, during our induction. This outlined when we would have days out of the office to reflect on our placement, other networking sessions, celebration evenings, and projects within our Year In Industry cohort. It really brought us together as a group and allowed us to thrive in our day roles. The placement could have a few more sessions but in all honesty it is one of the few companies who have a rigid structure like this, and it was much appreciated.

The company invested a lot in my personal training. There are a number of courses that I went on to further extend my knowledge of finance and the retail industry, which definitely benefited my performance. Boots also has a week-long intensive scheme called 'Finance Youniversity' which is where you can sign up to any of 30 courses within a week, and take advantage of everything there is to offer.

The future employment prospects as a placement colleague are very high. The scheme is structured so that we are seen as 'Future Leaders' of Boots, and so it is imperative that we put the work in. A graduate role is offered to a select few of the Year In Industry cohort, which will allow them to become managers as soon as they roll off the scheme

There was a good social scene amongst the fellow placement students/colleagues and we went on a number of nights out/dinners, however we could have done more throughout the year. Team Days were also key in bringing the team closer in a more social setting, which allowed all barriers to be broken down and ultimately benefited performance within the workplace upon our return.

The cost of living in Nottingham is very fair, in terms of rent and bills paid. Cost of socialising varies from wherever you go, as most places in Notts are a part of chains which are also in other cities - but in general it isn't too expensive.

Nottingham is a fantastic social hub with many nightclubs and bars. The 2 universities mean there are many things to do for students within the city, adding to the vibe.

There were opportunities to get involved in charity events and organising work parties/events - however these were few and far between. We had a bi-weekly football match within the finance departments, however this was also harder to organise. Boots could do more on the extra-curricular side of things.