Account Handler Review

As an Account Handler my principle role is to ensure accurate and efficient processing of premiums in our in-house systems and to then monitor the movement of funds between clients and reinsurers. As I am responsible for my own book of business I regularly liaise with our brokers in London and team in Mumbai and have therefore developed good working relationships with them.

Since starting with the company I have been able to develop my communication skills from speaking to clients on a daily basis via telephone or email. I feel I have also enhanced my prioritisation skills which has enabled me to manage my work load more effectively. There are a number of internal courses offered in Willis, I have attended a few of these which has helped me to develop my software skills particularly on Excel.

I thoroughly enjoy my programme and having exposure to different tasks and situations within Willis. My team were very welcoming when I first joined which made it very easy to settle into my department and I have now developed good working relationships with my colleagues. Whilst all members of the team work hard to meet the demands of the business there is a positive atmosphere in the office and everyone works well together. I feel the programme exceeded my expectations as it's a fantastic opportunity to be exposed to a working environment.

I feel hard work never goes unrecognized in Willis; I regularly receive positive feedback for my input on our accounts from our London counterparts and team in Ipswich.

I feel the programme was well structured and having a mentor to support you through your porgramme was very beneficial. One area I feel that could be improved is for each apprentice to have some time allocated aside from their day job to study for their exam.

I feel there was a good amount of support from our training provider, we had regular meetings where we could discuss our progress with the IF1 book, how best to revise and exam tips. There was a lot of support with the NVQ qualification which meant we could move though the course quickly to allow us to have more time to revise for the exam.

My mentor assisted with most of my job training so if I had any problems I could ask her for help. I feel I can approach her with anything and she will always be willing to offer her assistance. I also had some review sessions with my manager and mentor where was discussed my progress since starting with the company. Within my team there are a number of colleagues with years of experience who I can approach for feedback and insight, everyone is very supportive and willing to help.

I am generally very happy with my salary as it allows me to pay for my travel costs and car expenses whilst also having enough money for social activities of a weekend. Although as I become more qualified and have more responsibility in my job role I hope to receive an increased salary.

There are always a number of social activities going on after work including going out for dinner or drinks as well as the occasional office party which is a great opportunity to meet other people within your department. As a member of the CII I have also been invited to attend an annual ball along with my fellow apprentices recognising our achievements and completion of our programme. We also had the opportunity to assist in raising money for a local charity which involved arranging a number of fundraisers including cake sales and a pub quiz night.

Yes

Willis is a great company to work for with a number of opportunities and the school leaver programme gives you a great platform to starting your career. All your training is completed on the job so you can gain the experience and skills you need whilst working. There's also the opportunity to continue studying whilst earning which is a great benefit to both you and the company.

I would definitely recommend getting in contact to arrange a work placement so you can get an insight to the work carried out within Willis. Putting yourself forward for voluntary work in your own time demonstrates you have a good work ethic and shows you would like to be considered for the programme. Prior to you interview think about some of the questions that may arise and how you would answer them, having an idea of what to say will help you to be more relaxed when the interview comes around.