Finance Intern Review

My role as a Finance Intern involves almost infinite use of Excel, which I use for financial analysis multiple times per month, also for non-financial metrics such as employee headcount/leavers. Working in a HQ Finance Team involves the review of many submissions from, and a lot of communication with, many different sites and regions within our business, which helps to give plenty of exposure to people and different regions throughout the world! As part of the monthly process, we are required to create a presentation which summarises all of the key financial results from the month, which again involves a large amount of communication with regions, sites and other people within the wider HQ team.

Prior to joining the Finance team as an intern, I had very little knowledge with Excel. In my short time here so far on placement, my skills have developed rapidly. Also, my people skills have hugely improved. I wasn't a massively confident person prior to starting my placement, but now I feel comfortable having a conversation with anyone! The experience is invaluable! I also understand the reasons behind key financial metrics, due to my exposure to them. Previously, I was happy calculating things at University, but I didn't fully understand the reasons behind them. However, now I fully understand the reasons behind these metrics and why stakeholders find them necessary.

I have been given a huge amount of responsibility during my placement so far, which has been very reassuring, as it has given me the confidence to believe that I am able to competently perform in my role. I find hands-on learning to be very important, and thankfully I have been provided with this opportunity during my time on placement. Initially, I was provided with a few tasks, varying in difficulty, which was a nice way to start as some tasks were easier and some were very challenging. However, not long into the placement, one of our team members was transferred into another team, and this gave me a much higher level of responsibility, which further built my confidence as the fact that my manager and other teammates had faith in me to complete these new tasks, was very pleasing to me.

I have benefitted from a large level of training, support and guidance during my placement so far, which has been very pleasing as it allows me to develop my skills in the long term, rather than just the short term. I have been delighted with the fact that I have always felt welcome. Every one of my team members is always happy to answer any questions and queries that I have, and this availability means that I have been able to develop my skills rapidly and perform at the highest level I possibly can.

The general atmosphere and culture of the company is one of a very friendly nature. During my time in the office, people are always available for a chat, whether it be about work or what we got up to at the weekend. There is a great balance between seriousness and casualness, and I felt welcomed into the team and the wider company from minute one. Even if you have no idea who the person across the floor is, everyone is always happy to break the ice and have a conversation. Additionally, the Finance team have frequent catch ups, so I always feel welcome to bring up issues, whether they be personal or work-related.

So far, I am thoroughly enjoying my placement year, and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone who is considering a placement year. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy it prior to commencing my applications, but I decided to apply to this placement year and I am absolutely glad that I did! I thought the work environment would be scary but it is the complete opposite. It has been thoroughly enjoyable to put my experiences from University into practice with a placement year, as the prior knowledge gives you a platform, but the transferable skills gained from a placement year are invaluable in terms of the knowledge that you will gain.

Yes

When applying to IMI, I would give the advice of allocating your time well during the online tests prior to the assessment centre. It goes without saying not to take too long, but also make sure that you don't rush! I took my time while applying and was invited to an interview. Remember, it is not a race! Although easy to say, I would recommend staying calm and composed during the assessment day, particularly in advance of the interview. I would recommend doing whatever personally helps you relax, whether that be listening to your favourite song, or going for a walk!