Finance Graduate Review

Working as part of the decision support teams in finance, supporting key stakeholders make the best decisions for the business by providing relevant financial information. This involves forecasting, data analysis and investigation to understand the key factors that change the financial key performance indicators for the business. My role has rotated every year so I have got a broad range of experience across the decision support teams in finance.

On the degree apprenticeship at Nestle, I have been part of the graduate cohort and have benefited from graduate training weeks that have been run by HR. This has included training on presenting, networking, project management and leadership. I have also been given the opportunity to develop through projects alongside my role to stretch my understanding and learn new skills.

The programme is very enjoyable because the roles I have done in the three years are very varied and stretching. This has made sure that I am always busy and learning new things throughout the programme. I have been able to direct the roles I have done to align with my specific interests.

The scheme is deliberately not overly structured. The roles that we do are complex and sometimes require long hours and therefore we are given a significant amount of flexibility on when we would like to sit our exams. These can be booked by us at any time with 3 days of study leave to support. Aside from the graduate weeks, off the job training time is also fitted in alongside the day-job.

I have regular meetings with my line manager for support, I can flag any issues and talk about my progress in these meetings. I also have a HR champion who is available to support with any issues, particularly relating to the apprenticeship, off the job time and exams. However, due to the scheme having less structure, a lot of the support is on an ad-hoc basis and has to be requested which does not suit everyone.

The training provider has a very good set of revision materials. Each exam has 3 different ways of revising, from textbook to in-class teaching, so there is scope to match the level of support received to what you need. I also have regular meetings to work on the other elements that are required for the apprenticeship, to ensure that all of the requirements are met.

The technical knowledge that I have gained through the CIMA studies have supported my understanding of my day job, the legal requirements and how more technical aspects of my job work and why. The qualification will become increasingly important as it is necessary for carrying out more senior finance roles.

There are extra-curricular activities, although these have been more limited since the start of covid. There is a gym in the office which runs exercise classes, different sports groups and also networks of like minded people for example eradicating racism and gender balance which are a great way of getting involved and doing something you believe in.

Yes

Nestle has been a really good company to work for. They have always been supportive of my needs and have a focus on people and well-being which leads to a very inclusive team. The opportunity to work flexibly and direct my career path are both really good features of Nestle that have ensured I have stayed happy at work.

Make sure you do some research about the company and its values before you apply, to make sure they are aligned to what you are looking for, but also so you can discuss them confidently in your interview. There is a strong focus on being yourself, so be confident in what you can bring to the company by being your authentic self and make sure you have good examples of how your strengths can benefit Nestle!