Finance officer Review

My role as a finance officer entails a number of daily jobs including, reconciliation, bacs processing, morning checks (this is a number of reports that have to be checked daily and let's us know if there have been any issues). Another part of my job is solving member queries weather that be on the phone or by email. Finally the most important job is running payroll deductions.

My skills on the phone have improved massively, I had little experience of a profesional office environment and talking on the phone to members and other professionals helped me massively. My IT skills have also improved as I have had to learn how to use lots of different ypes of software.

I enjoy the programme a lot as I am learning new thinks all the time and it is getting me ready for a job in the area I want. Even if I have had setbacks it's all learning and makes me want to succeed even more. I also have enjoyed meeting people with similar interest doing the same course.

My programme is well structured, covid 19 had an effect on its structure, however I believe that my tutor has done all she can with the resources she was given.The organisation of the programme has been well managed in terms of the order of the exams as we have learnt things we need to know in previous exams.

I receive a lot of support from my employer, people within the organisation have helped me with my study in terms of answering questions I may not understand or showing me skills on certain software e.g.excel. They also give me any time off when I need it for study and wiil do what they can to assist me.

I receive a lot of support from my training provider, they give us text books for revision and have set up a portal with lots of other revision materials in there. Also during the pandemic there has been group and 1-1 zoom sessions for all the different exams. Whereas before it was classroom learning.

I think I helps me a lot as a lot of the skis from the exams that we learn through the training provider are interchangeable. For example anything I learn on excel I can take to our workplace and use certain functions. Or if we learn about ethics I could apply that to the way I work.

There are no extra-curricular activities at my work however we once had a day out at chats worth house doing cyber security training and team bonding. However I do play sports with my friends outside of work and go to sporting events. Me and some work colleagues also meet outside of work sometimes just to socialise and relax.

Yes

I think it is a great way to learn whilst gaining experience in a real life office setting. It also gives you a platform to get a job in the future as a lot of businesses want they're employees to have experience. I also think that it is a great qualification to get as it is internationally recognised.

Be prepared to work hard for the qualification as it is not easy but in the end you will be glad you did it. Also ddo the practice exams aat give you as that is the closest you are going to get to sitting the real exam and it is a great insight.