Finance Summer Analyst Review

by American Express

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

3/5
  • The Role
    3.3
  • The Company
    3.0
  • The Culture
    2.6

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • I enjoyed the internship very much. It was challenging, but the skills i developed at Amex are skills that helped shape the person I am today. I was involved in various tasks such as Financial Modelling, Financial analysis, presentations to senior team members and streaming productivity within my team. These are just a few examples, and there are so many other areas and roles you can take on if you feel you have the time to do so.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • I felt very valued. The team I worked with were very helpful, friendly and collaborative and this aided me in my internship. I also had the opportunity to network with members outside of my team. These external team members aided me in given me a wider perspective of Finance and general advice for my project and how to measure success.

    4/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • Personally I was given a satisfactory level of support and guidance, but this is completely dependent on which team you work with. Even if you feel you are not being given enough, there are still other team members that are happy to help and the American Express network is so large and friendly that you will always find the answers and the help that you need.

    2/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • I had prioritise between my project and other roles that I was working on. Sometimes I even had to delegate tasks amongst my team which helps build leadership and organisation skills, vital components of professional life as a financial analyst. However, given the internship is 10 weeks and you have a project you have to deliver you have to accept that it may not be completed 100% in the end due to the immense workload. Although this is difficult to take, your colleagues will still appreciate the work that you have put in and acknowledge the time and effort.

    2/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • I was given a huge amount of responsibility to make tangible actions that can assist the team even after my departure. This made me feel like i was leaving a legacy behind knowing that my former team still use models i created. The different parts of the project we were working on also helps students balance responsibilities and is key for giving an idea as to what real professional working life is like.

    4/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • There is no doubt that partaking in a 10 month internship at American Express will give you skills for life whether you continue at the company or eventually go on to work somewhere else. The internship throws many aspects of real professional life straight into a students lap but is also very well structured by the HR campus recruitment team to give guidance and support if needed and to be involved in extra curricular activities outside of the usual 9-5.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • The general atmosphere is very relaxed however this is up or down depending on whether the general team around you has important deadlines that need to be met. You are pushed to do your own work but also given space to work quietly and in your own way if thats what you wish.

    3/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • It was set up well. Aspects of the assessment vary year on year (we had to do presentation and case study in our year but it has not always been like this) and you are given necessary support by HR recruitment. There is a slight disconnect between recruitment and intern management which the interns have to bridge, which is difficult considering you are being assessed for 10 weeks. However campus recruitment have structured the internship very well in stages and give you a clear outline at the beginning of what to expect and what to prepare for.

    3/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • A very good amount. It is part of the Amex culture to help and assist the interns whilst also treating them like valued members of staff. If you are an intern at Amex and every feel like you need help or assistance there will always be someone to help you.

    4/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Company Parties/Events

    Working from home

    3/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • Very good. There were many speakers who spoke to us highlighting how through hard work they were able to move up the organisation. Also the profile of the company as well as the challenging roles help to build skills which are invaluable

    4/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • Not particularly amongst the interns however, the colleagues are always up for a night out and encourage the interns in their team to join in.

    4/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • If you live in Victoria as an intern it would be very expensive. My suggestion would be to live somewhere in zone 3-4 and travel to Victoria as central London prices are quite high.

    1/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • Not particularly great. However, it is not far from areas which are good in the city of London such as Shoreditch, Oxford street. The internship was based in Victoria which has a lot of pubs and bars which are good for after office drinks, but there are no clubs or "nightlife" as such.

    2/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • There were many opportunities from networking events all the way to charity events. We also had a trip to Brighton to learn about another side of the Amex business.

    5/5

    Report this review

Details

Internship (1 Month+)

London

November 2017


View More Reviews