PMO Finance Assistant Review

I have been in my current role since Sept 2018 and my role is different than what has been here before, it is a hybrid of finance and PMO (project management office). Day-to-day roles include communicating with PMs and confirming forecasts for their projects within my specified area. I also communicate with suppliers on a regular basis and deliver presentations to the business on a monthly basis in the form of a finance review. Prior to this I was in a different role, which I did not have such a positive experience with.

I have learnt so many new skills such as timekeeping, previously I was not great at this as when you're in college everything is done for you, but now I have to make my own milestones and prepare myself accordingly. I have excelled in confidence massively and often present to members of SLT and consistently chasing up project managers to ensure they can deliver what they promised in their forecasts.

The training provider is okay, I find it rather tedious at times but I suppose that's to be expected when a topic as broad as Business Administration is selected. The apprenticeship programme at Fujitsu needs some improvements but I think overall it's good, it could just deal with some extra attention/funding to really kick it off, but hopefully things will start to change soon!

I wouldn't say that the programme has structure, it has a couple of suggested courses, but other than that we're pretty much left to our own devices. The board doesn't appear to do much for getting apprentices involved in courses other than the two that grads did previously and said would be good for apprentices, it just seems to be a numbers game with no real drive to actually develop the apprentices in a way that would benefit the business.

I have two managers - assignment and line. Both of whom are amazing and so supportive and I am so grateful for. They provide far more of an input in things like training opportunities than the AAB does, which makes me feel bad for apprentices who perhaps don't have that commitment from their managers as they probably feel quite on their own in a sense! Which is something that no apprentice should feel.

My training provider is very helpful and answers any questions I have within a matter of hours where possible, and if she can't, she will let me know that she's travelling and will respond the following day, which I appreciate. Due to my schedule, it is hard to commit to a day for my assessor to visit me in BSN01 as things can often move around last minute, my assessor is very good at understanding this and is very flexible which is greatly appreciated.

I think that my qualification has made me understand some areas in greater depth (i.e. health and safety, excel) but I do find it quite tedious in other areas and I struggle to make it relevant to my job or the subjects are very boring. I think there should possibly be more units to choose from so that other apprentices don't experience this.

There are endless oppportunities to get involved in activities beyond work in the office (and surrounding offices!) which is brilliant to be a part of. I regularly attend business in the community events in schools/colleges and go out with fellow apprentices and graduates for socials on a monthly basis which is good as its a great opportunity to speak with like-minded individuals in similar situations to myself.

Yes

Fujitsu is a very large company, with lots of opportunities. They are a very good employer for apprentices, if not from the apprenticeship scheme itself, then just by the networks that you can create for yourself. I don't see myself staying at Fujitsu forever, but I do think that within a few years I will have a good foundation of knowledge/connections to develop my professional career further.

I would say that you should work on thinking about things differently, when Fujitsu hires apprentices, they want to bring people in who can look at something that 50 other people have looked at, and come up with a totally different response/resolution. Someone who is driven to do things differently. Even if you're not sure exactly how to do that, be open to it, be open to learning and trying new things (and failing on occassions) and you'll do great!