Senior Finance Analyst Review

Providing support to the marketing team related to budget analysis and incremental sales performance related to this budgeted spend. Any overspends are reviewed and we provide information to the customer director to help him make decisions around what to spend and what on. Liaise regular with budget owners and build relationships with them too on budget related issues.

I came into the role with no accounting background, so I have learnt a lot so far even after having only done one exam. Starting with BA3 gave me insight into the world of credits and debits, and how they are used as the basis of financial statements, which I'm now able to read too.

In general, I enjoy the programme, but it is challenging to manage it alongside a full time job, and the 3 hour revision and content sessions I find hard to focus on and repetitive. It's nothing against the tutors and skills coaches who I have on the whole had good experiences with, but the sessions can be very slow at times and not relevant to learners who are at different stages of their own revision.

Good organisation in general, regular reviews with Jane, my tutor, which are well run and useful for me as a check in. Jane is understanding and puts a plan together which works for me around my job, which is very much appreciated. As said above, let down by the sessions somewhat, but appreciate its not easy to deliver content such as this to so many learners.

Support offered solely by line manager as I sit outside the general apprentices who are just starting out in work. I like this as I have a good relationship with my line manager, and we have regular to but not needlessly regular conversations about my progress in the apprenticeship. Very good support.

Loads of support offered from Babington, and lots of flexibility given I am doing at alongside a senior role in a finance business of a huge company. Training sessions recorded to watch back if you missed them, and regular review meetings with tutor. The hub provides a space to track your progress, which is useful.

I would say its useful but not essential. I've been building gradual knowledge of Waitrose specific finance through my role, and CIMA is helping me broaden that knowledge into more general finance and accounting. This would help me in future, moving into a new role, as I would have the base knowledge to transfer.

There are a number of different Partnership clubs to join, we'll be doing a 5 a side tournament next month, we do regular team days and broader whole finance days where we connect and network as a team. We also have a chat amongst the JLP apprentices to discuss learning.

Yes

John Lewis Partnership is unique in the sense that its a partnership and everyone owns a portion of it. And that comes with lots of unique benefits. However, what makes the Partnership unique is the people, and having worked at a number of companies, the Partnership people are the nicest, most supportive, polite and well-mannered people you'll meet.

Be prepared to fully immerse yourself in the Partnership and really get behind what it represents and stands for. Only then can you fully appreciate what it means to be a Partner. Don't join expecting it to be like any other corporation as it is definitely not that at all.