Cruise and Distribution Assistant Review

I am responsible for the end-to-end accounting process for the company's Irish retail shops as well as tour operator affiliates. This includes financial journals and balance sheet presentations. I am also heavily involved in intercompany reconciliations, IFRS16 property reports, invoicing, alongside assisting my team members with any tasks that need completing urgently.

When starting my apprenticeship, I was not entirely confident with my technology skills. Now, nearly 9 months in the role, I have drastically improved in this area. I am more than comfortable using systems such as Excel, Powerpoint and SAP. My formal written and verbal communication has also improved through constant practice within the workplace.

I thoroughly enjoy my role as I am a part of an excellent and cooperative team that provide me with reliable support whenever I need it. I am also lucky enough to work for an employer that evidently supports me in my role and ensures the right foundations are in place for me to succeed on the programme.

The programme is very well structured and it is always clear as to which point of my programme I should be at in the current day, as well as a clear framework as to how the programme will progress. So far, the programme has run smoothly and without any distractions.

I receive more than enough support from my employer, irrespective of the problem. They provide plenty of support in terms of my professional qualification, allowing me to have study days in order to prepare effectively for exams. My employer also fully finances any costs associated with my study which removes any barriers in terms of passing my professional qualification.

I receive sufficient support from my training provider, through both online lectures, course material and in-centre study days. These lectures are insightful and effective. The online course material is very handy as it allows me to progress at my own pace, however, the only negative point would be that the practice questions provided do not resemble the questions in the respective exams.

The professional qualification itself introduces me to the theory behind my role and it allows me to explore my profession in greater detail, giving me skills and knowledge that are transferable to my role. As I progress through my qualification, I am confident that I will continue to learn important skills and knowledge that will help me to perform better in my role.

When starting my role, extra-curricular activities weren't so common as the company were still adjusting to post-pandemic times. However, as time has progressed, there are far more extra-curricular activities available, both in and out of the office. My team in particular have regular social nights that include fun activities and visiting nice restaurants in the local area.

Yes

TUI is a friendly and welcoming working environment that differs from most other companies. The smart-casual dress code allows its employees to be themselves and sets the standard for a relaxed working environment whilst also remaining focused and professional. There are many benefits to working for TUI that are unlike any other employer and the overall satisfaction amongst employees is very evident. The product/service itself is also a huge plus as everyone loves to go on holiday!

My advice would be, if successful in obtaining a role, is to make the most of everything that is offered to you by TUI. TUI have been extremely supportive in terms of my well-being and my educational needs and I repay this by ensuring my work is the best that it can be. My concluding advice would be to embrace being a part of the company and most importantly, have fun!