Accounts Services Intern Review

Working at BMW Financial Servies I a great opportunity to learn what it's like to work in the real world. I wasn't treated as just the intern, but as a vauled member of staff, i was given responsibilities from day one, which really showed me that i would enjoy the placement and not just be doing mundane jobs.

I feel very vauled by my colleagues and am treated equal to them. I'm asked for advice on situations that another colleague may not know so much on. I've been asked to train new members in my team and have also provided overviews to other colleagues about what my team does.

The team i worked in was very happy to offer any help I required, always happy to answer questions I had when I became suck with my work and still are happy to help after being here over a year. I had regular 1-2-1's with my manager where we reviewed my process and objectives.

I had daily tasks that needed to be completed every day, which tended to take up my morning and the beginning of the afternoon. Some days these daily tasks took longer than others. Once these daily tasks were complete there would always be some ad hoc tasks or needing to help a colleague with their work.

I was given a lot of responsibility during my placement. I was given sole responsibility for processing and paying invoices for part of the business, as well as responsibility for reconciling bank statements daily. I also choice to particpate in opportunities outside of my day to day responsibilities such as organising charity events within the business.

There is a long list of skills I have developed and gained throughout my time. Ones that will help with my degree such as team work and analytical skills as well as ones that will help in jobs to come; working in a proffessional environment, communication skills and presentation skills.

The atmosphere around the office is very relaxed and inviting. The dress code is relaxed so people are able to express themselves and are able to feel comfortable. The office is very open with a hot desking policy so you are able to move around the office and sit with different people and teams.

The work placement was set up well, I started along with 9 other students who would be working in different departments around the business, we were all introduced to eachother, we had inductions and tours of the offices and HR talks. I had a week handover with the old intern I would be replacing so they trained me up on what I would be doing.

I wouldn't say time and money was spend on my training and development specifically, but the company did offer training courses on all sorts of skills that I was able to book onto if I pleased just as any other colleague was.

I currently have mixed feelings about future employment prospects within the organistion, as I'm not sure if it can offer the career path I would like. They are limited with graduate opportunities they offer and I'm not clear how easy it is to move up the hiarachy here, I see a lot of employees moving across from team to team but not so much upwards

There was a group of 10 placement students, with a few of us living together during the placement year. We often lunched together and went out into town a handful of times. Some good friendships where made out of the year.

The local area is very residential. There is a small local shopping centre, but if you wanted to go out the best place would be Reading about 40minute drive away.

Farnborough doesn't have any bars or clubs, just a handful of pubs. Fleet about 10 minutes away has one club and a bar. For a proper night out eithe Guilford or Reading would be best both about 40 minute drive away. Farnborough train station also have direct trains into London for a night out.

Outside of my daily work, there was any opportunities. I volunteered as a charity champion where we organised bank sales, movie nights, a puppy petting day, summer social event etc for employees to participate in whilest raising money for charity. I also had the opportunity to volenteer to work at the PGA Golf Champoinships in Wentworth and GoodWood Festival of Speed representing BMW at these events.