Management Accountant Review

Management accountant for MPP services involves supporting budget managers to make decisions by providing them clear financial information in a way they can understand. To also produce month end accounts and reports to show our financial position and that we have accounted for all transactions in a period. To monitor budgets and when needed, seek info to explain any variances.

I've become much more proficient with some software packages, particularly Microsoft Excel. Since starting I have learnt '=ifs', '=sumifs', and '=vlookups' and use them regularly to increase efficiency. It has also made me better at communication as I have had to communicate with budget managers who are not finance professionals.

I enjoy my work, but not the bits that the apprenticeship adds on. There is too much busy work that just seems to be done to tick boxes for things you have to do, even though there doesn't seem to be a good reason. Also the pressure the apprenticeship puts on me is too much.

Poorly. The lessons seem rushed to me, to the point where I will feel as though I only took on board about 20% of the content, and will have to teach myself the rest in my own time. There are also skills days that occur once a year, and it is clear the people running the sessions have not all done enough prep, but are instead just ready off the presentation.

My direct manager has been amazingly supportive through my apprenticeship, and has always fought my corner. However I have felt what I deem to be unfair pressure from the L&D department, who at times have seemed to be more concerned that a delay in my learning would cost more money than anything else.

Tutors are available to answer questions whenever you have them via email, or you can set up extra 1:1 time if you need it after the course. There are also plenty of resources available to use for revision, but these can be frustrating if you don't understand the answer to a question, as they do not have explanations available for all of them.

The course introduces me to a number of financial concepts before4 I've encountered them in the workplace, so that I have an understanding of them to build off when I take on new tasks at work. It has also helped to contextualise some of the things I have seen done at work, and why we do them.

We have occasional social events, and have most recently gone for a bottomless brunch and shuffleboard afternoon. We'll be have more regular events in the future ranging from other game activities such as interactive darts, and escape rooms, to cricket games and potentially a day at the races too.

Yes

It purely depends on what you want from your work. You could absolutely earn more money elsewhere for the same jobs, but working at Solent lets you contribute to the NHS and providing healthcare to patients who need it. The finance team is also full of great people who it's a pleasure to work with.

Make sure you understand the values of Solent NHS Trust. They are important to the Trust and what the Trust sets out to accomplish. Also take sometime to research what services we provide to the community, as we are a Community and Mental Health trust, and not an Acute provider.