Financial Reporting Administration team assistant manager Review

My role involves making sure the documents look presentable - ensuring they follow our style sheets. This means they should have the correct font/font sizes and they should be the right colours. I also have to roll-forward documents and put through changes other people, from other teams, have given me and my team. This means I have to speak to them and make sure what they're asking me to do is done & is done how they expect it to be done.

I've learnt skills in terms of the Microsoft Office software. I have learnt quite a few shortcuts and how to format documents correctly. I must admit, my job role hasn't really taught me a great deal about the world of accountancy - I do sometimes feel as though I'm doing an admin assistant role, rather than a trainee accountant!

I do enjoy the programme, as it's given me a stepping stone into the business! I have also met some great people through this programme, and I am extremely grateful for that! I don't really enjoy the way my role is mainly admin, as this definitely isn't what I signed up for!

There have been a few hiccups in terms of the structure of my programme, ranging from my workbooks (that we do for BPP) being lost to receiving exam books after I've sat the exam, rather than before! I also think my apprenticeship would have been better if we did a rotation - and so we could experience the different parts of finance and what the bank does.

I receive a lot of support from my line managers - whether that's for a medical issue, or if that's something to do with my exams. They are always on hand if I have a question or an issue and I know if I want to speak to them, I only have to let them know.

I don't really receive a great deal of support from my training provider, as I usually receive my books late and they ask me to repeat work, as they may have lost the copies I sent to them previously. However, I know if I do have a question I can just email them and they will usually get back to me!

As my role isn't really accountancy based, I don't feel my qualification really affects my work. However, if I do pass exams I do get promoted, leading to better pay and benefits. I think both my training provider and my employer could perhaps improve on this, as currently there isn't much motivation in my current role!

My work does have a lot of extra curricular activities that I could get involved in! We have a gym on site, that regularly have football competitions and my department also holds weekly lunch time walks and runs. We also have two offsite days for the whole department, which serve as professional networking events.

No

I would recommend it to my friends who have degrees or friends that want a simple 9-5 job, however I wouldn't recommend for a friend who is looking to further their career, and is hoping for internal promotions or more accountancy knowledge, as I don't feel I've been given this in my time here.

Make sure you do your research as to what you want to do and which team you want to be in - as some teams may not be the best fit. Also, make sure you keep pushing for more work if you'd like to climb up the ladder, as otherwise you may never make it off of the ground!