Pricing & Commercial Expense Analyst Review

The placement was a great opportunity to put theory into practice, as the responsibilities I was given were of great importance so I felt my input to the company was well valued. I also developed use of Excel through data analysis, while also developing the use of business systems for pricing and accounting processes. I became more confident through networking and learning from my manager, mentor and colleagues.

I felt part of the team during the course of the placement, as a lot of my responsibilities required collaborating with not only people within my department (Finance), but other departments such as Ordering & Inventory, as well as the Fleet team. I think it was crucial, as part of my personal development, that I was able to work well with a range of people, especially while working on crucial pricing processes.

I felt that I was well supported by my manager throughout the placement period, where any queries I had were supported and I was able to develop my knowledge of business processes and systems. My mentor was also able to further support any issues or worries I had, and made sure I was settling into the role and business to the best of my ability. We were also able to discuss the business and industry from a wider scope.

I was fairly busy at the start of the placement, especially with the introduction of new model year car lines on top of month-end process that I had to complete. Once this settled down, I felt that I could have taken on more responsibilities, which at one point I did while briefly covering for 2 other colleagues for 2 weeks. I am happy about the balance of work, as I wasn't busy to the point that I was stressed out.

I felt that I was given a lot of responsibility, as the main pricing processes meant that I was responsible for the vehicle pricing of Vauxhall's key channels such as Retail, Direct deal and Rental / fleet channels. This level of responsibility ensures that Vauxhall puts a lot of trust in its Undergraduate students based on their capabilities, and makes the process of developing and learning more challenging but rewarding at the same time.

I believe the skills that I have developed over the duration of my placement year will be pivotal in my final year of my Undergraduate course. Development of business systems and Excel greatly improved my technical and analytical skills. These are great skills to acquire and develop in a Finance based role and degree, due to the level of attention to detail and accuracy required in this discipline. I learnt from my mistakes and I am always eager to continue to develop.

I felt that the atmosphere within the department and office promoted a focused working culture, due to the detail orientated nature of Finance. It was generally a good balance between work and non-work related conversations. The decision to mix up Finance with Sales after moving office was good not only from a commercial perspective (it makes sense; both departments mutually rely on each other), but further improved interaction between colleagues.

I felt that the overall placement was set up well, as I had all the required access to systems within a reasonable time frame. I felt that I was supported with most issues by the department manager and that there was a good balance in the responsibilities assigned to the role so as not to be too overwhelmed.

There were good chances to get involved in personal development classes within the role, and I was assigned a business mentor from the start of my placement to track how well I was getting on with responsibilities and if I had any other issues. i was also able to access personal development courses online where there are a range of videos and activities to get involved in.

I feel that there would be good opportunities to progress further within the organisation, as there are usually internal vacancies posted that people within the organisation can apply to. There would also be opportunities to come back to the company through a graduate scheme, although this is dependent on final year performance as well as if there are any opportunities available at that time.

As a group, we organised a few Undergraduate outings at the beginning of the year, although toward the end of the year not may outings had been organised. I played football on a weekly basis, so this was a great way to socialise as well as keep fit and have fun in the process.

The cost of living was low, meaning that I could save more money on a monthly basis. Rent was good value based on the availability of housing. Within the area I worked in there was a few good areas to socialise in, for example at the town center where there is a leisure center.

There wasn't too much to do after-work hours in Luton, hence as a group we had to go to the nearest area (Bedford) with a good night-life which is further away. in terms of things to do, there isn't much to do after work within Luton so most people go further afield.

As Undergraduates, we organised a few outings at the beginning of the year although it become more difficult due to choosing a time that most people would be available for. Personally, I got involved in a weekly football night that was organised by the company, as well as signing up for a local gym.