Finance Graduate Review

There are three rotations on the Centrica Finance Graduate scheme. My first was in Treasury where I mainly focused on back office operations and cash management. I am now in a Business Unit of Centrica, CBS Supply in a Finance Partnering role. I perform as hoc financial analysis, create plans, and do reporting.

I had previously never studied or worked in Finance. Doing the ICAEW ACA qualification so far has taught me a lot about business, finance, and accounting. Before Centrica, I had only ever worked as a freelance tutor, so being part of a large company has also taught me a lot.

I enjoy getting to try three different roles. I also enjoy having a graduate community that is encouraged to have socials and spend time together. I wish that there was more of an emphasis on exams and perhaps incentives and guides to completing them. It sometimes feels like you're left to deal with that aspect completely by yourself.

I like the overall structure and the fact there is a graduate talent board to oversee the scheme. I wish the graduate talent board would be more open about reviews and their roles instead of it being dependant on graduates to reach out to someone they haven't met before.

My manager is great and extremely supportive. The graduate community is also really helpful. The employer as a whole could do with providing more support around exams and career progression. When starting the scheme, it was unclear how exams worked and it is very much up to the individual to reach out for help. Also not enough study days to do college fully.

My manager is great and extremely supportive. The graduate community is also really helpful. The employer as a whole could do with providing more support around exams and career progression. When starting the scheme, it was unclear how exams worked and it is very much up to the individual to reach out for help. Also not enough study days to do college fully.

Yes, in my current role it helps to know accounting terms and some bookkeeping as well as some assurance techniques. Otherwise, as I am in industry and not in financial control, the help it provides is limited. In my last role in Treasury, it was extremely limited with only one mention of it in my studies.

Social events are organised by fellow graduates, which are great. There are engagement days were we come together to speak about the grad scheme which are also useful. Professional networking events and/or more regular catch ups with the talent board would be appreciated though. It would also be good to have the company organising more.

Yes

Great colleagues

It is important to be focused on the future and longer term goals. There are a lot of outdated processes and mentalities around using new tools and improving things, but it is worth the effort. It's also easy to get caught up in the detail, but important to keep core values and goals in mind.