Finance and Commercial Academy Student Review

The Siemens Finance and Commercial Academy Apprenticeship is a rotational program that now offers 2 x 6 month placements and 2 x 1 year placements in various roles around the country. Siemens offer an extremely wide range of placements available from Strategic Procurement in Siemens Healthcare, right up to the core financial activities in Corporate Finance. For the level that the student will enter, Siemens offers you high quality placements that are full of responsibility, job empowerment and ensures that you really enjoy what you are doing on a day-to-day basis, and not just making the tea like other apprenticeships may do. Siemens also put the student through CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) which involves 16 exams, which eventually qualify you to be a Chartered Management Accountant. Siemens pay for all of your exam and study fees and the qualification is classed as an equivalent to a Masters degree! Overall 9/10 for an apprenticeship. The only thing that could make it a 10/10 would be to offer frequent International placements.

Because of the nature of the variance of placements, the knowledge gained in different areas of the business is invaluable and only begins to expand your knowledge of the Siemens brand and how it affects everyone in their everyday life. Siemens also offer Excel Training courses, personal development courses and further "business practice" training courses to expand yourself and develop as a young professional.

The teams I have been in are extremely accommodating and are always there to help. Everyone wants to help with any problems you may have and want you to develop as a person and stay connected through your "business network".

I was extremely fortunate to be allowed to go on a 3-month placement in Siemens Switzerland and have all expenses paid for. This allowed me to gain an incredible experience of working abroad and one that very few people get to experience at my age. I was offered this personally by a manager that I worked for and have stayed in contact with him ever since.

The apprenticeship is incredibly well structured. From day 1, the training courses were set out for us and we were allowed to book the CIMA courses and exams at our own pace. The placements are organised well in advance to prepare you for moving to another location in the UK.

The program manager is always on hand for personal support as well as business support. We have a 30 minute session every week in which we are allowed to "dial in" and ask any questions in which we have.

Siemens offer a "relocation allowance" which states that every time a student moves locations with Siemens, they are allowed a fixed (and healthy) sum of money to help each student with the costs of relocating. This sum of money is not required to be paid back to the company.

My salary is competitive compared to similar apprenticeships of it's quality and holds yearly pay reviews based on the performance in your placements. Siemens also offer you the relocation allowance in addition to your fixed annual pay.

Siemens offer frequent sports and social activities at work and outside of work. These include sports clubs, free on-site gyms (only on certain sites), pay-day pub trips, volunteering work and lots of opportunities to visit other sites depending on the nature of the placement that you are in.

Yes

I cannot express the extent to which Siemens offer their benefits to you. It is such a great company to work for and the career opportunities are endless.

Be confident but be yourself. Siemens look for people who are intelligent, can think for themselves, and also who they believe are worth investing their time and money in. Teamwork is a largely focused topic area as well as the Finance aspect of the business/studies. Jump at every opportunity with both hands and make of it what you can.