Financial Analyst Review

American Express offers a hand on role where I have been able to gain a real insight into the organisation and finance. The work is challenging and rewarding.

Since I first started my placement I felt like a very valued and needed member of the team. I never felt as though I was a student and they take your commitment and contribution very seriously.

American Express have a well structured placement programme where I have: monthly reviews, 6 month and 12 month appraisals, quarterly meetings with my director, goals and targets to achieve throughout the year which are constantly monitored and support is offered where needed. It is a very good environment to work in, I never felt as though I couldn't ask a question- no matter how simple it may have been.

The days did vary especially around month end and busy times of the year. However, I would say that the work load is balance, they emphaise a strong work life balance I never worked very late hours and the work load was as much as you wanted it to be.

I was given a great deal of responsibility on the role, which at the time was scary I can see now how rewarding it is for self development to be a little out of your comfort zone and to know that you are trusted.

The main skill that I developed was to put the theory which I learnt in my degree into practice. I believe that it will also help in my final year as I will have real life understanding and examples as evidence and support for coursework and exams.

This is one of the factors that I appreciated the most on my placement year, especially when comparing to other students at different organisations. Amex has a great work-life balance and an atmosphere which did not have a heavy hierarchical structure- I felt comfortable talking to colleagues who were 4 levels about me without feeling intimidated or belittled.

The placement had a very organised structure from start to finish. It included fantastic social events, speaker series to understand all of the different departments and roles that amex have to offer, goals and targets to acheive.

I was given a personal development plan and a structure of 'stepping stones' where my manager wanted to progress through on my placement year. My team and my manager spent a lot of time ensuring that I fully understood and became good at my analyst role.

As they invest so much into their placement students and they focus on the 'pipeline' to obtain and create the best talent the prospects are very high. The company encourages internal promotions and developing employees careers.

Yes a very good social seen. Especially during the summer internship period, the Campus Team set up events every week after work so that as interns/placement students we got to know each other. The social events are fantastic.

I was working in London but living at home so it was expensive but affordable.

London so always good and busy

Yes, many of the guys on placement joined the London Amex football team.