Business Analyst Review

My current role as a Business Analyst is working on a project called MiFID II Transaction Reporting with the main focus being on historical remediation of incorrectly reported transactions within the business. As well as historical replays we do a lot of the BAU remediation and analysis to determine the causes of incorrect reporting.

The role has definitely allowed me to adapt and improve almost all my skills due to the standards set across the workplace and the additional training and support offered from the apprenticeship scheme. Mainly time and workload management, professionalism around the office having to conduct myself appropriately and the biggest change for me was thinking for myself and using my own initiative to ensure work is being delivered to the best of my abilities.

Went in being very unsure if I would be suited for the job, having no previous technology knowledge or experience made me have initial worries that I wouldn't be up to the task but the transition has been very smooth and you are allowed to progress at your own speed and you feel supported from the very first day.

The whole process was very well structured right up until my first day at Barclays. When we arrived at our new office none of the staff had any idea that we were starting and we sort of just left with random members of staff in our assigned teams, this mean that we had no access to any accounts and didn't for the first week or so. There has also been lots of transitions of main point of contacts being replaced or changed which added to the whole confusion but it seems to be getting better as they have realised this was an issue.

The support is very good and I don't have any problems talking to any member of staff if I have a concern. Being new there is a lot of building up of knowledge so I have had to ask many questions and although it probably annoys them with the amount of questions I ask they never fail to stop and explain.

Support is there as and when you need it, you get out what you put in so unless there is other problems I feel very comfortable with the support. I have had no real issues since the start just generic problems with finding the work difficult but this can easily be resolved using the resources provided by the lecturers.

The qualification I am currently getting from University has no bearing on my role what so ever. There is nothing that will be covered in the University course that will benefit my role but right now that is not a problem as the work is do-able. It is a very valuable degree to have for the industry but it has no relation to my current role.

There is many extra-curricular activates to get involved with, I have played 5's after work with a few of the older colleagues and this allowed me to also network as people from different companies were also there. There is also a 5's tournament after between the different teams also.

Yes

I would definitely recommend Barclays to a friend, although you work for a multinational company you feel valued, even as an apprentice. The workplace schemes they offer are very useful ranging from colleague stock investment schemes, 10% pension contribution from the business and many more. They also have free coffee machines which is a bonus.

I would tell them to read up on the business to truly understand what they are about as a business and the values they hold. It is defiantly worth applying for, they offer a very very good salary for an apprentice as well as a full University degree as well as lots of other benefits.