Finance apprentice Review

My role at AstraZeneca changes annually as I rotate around the business in different finance functions. Currently, I am interacting with internal stakeholders around the business in different channels such as leading Teams calls, making notes from the calls and feeding back the information to the business. My daily tasks include reviewing documentation, leading calls and writing up conclusions based on the information shared with them.

I have developed my: communication skills, organisation skills and business acumen. I am provided learning opportunities both inside my day-to-day role and externally through business awareness sessions (such as learning about a function within the business), and involvement opportunities in ERG groups.

Overall I enjoy my apprenticeship. Specifically, I enjoy having multiple apprentices on the same program as me so we are able to come together and share our challenges and learnings from our studies and work. I also enjoy the wider apprentice network at AstraZeneca, which has helped me grow my knowledge about the business and also encouraged social interactions outside of work. To improve the programme, I think there should be more documentation and governance around the programme set up, running.

The programme isn't well organised / structured. There is no guidance on which areas of Finance our next rotations should be in and a lack of consideration on how our roles in the business link in with our studies.

I have a good support network at AZ. I have become friendly with other apprentices and previous line managers. When needed support from HR has been provided in a well manner. Sometimes, when required support has been raised, it can take a long time to receive that support.

I have had a good experience with support received from my training provided. For example, I have previously reached out to a tutor around challenges / worry around a module and they have set up time for us to have a call to go through some questions together.

My qualification has a limited crossover with my day job.

There are lots extra-curricular activities to get involved in at work. For example, there are multiple sports team, apprentice social society's (who plan events for apprentices, such as crazy golf) and also professional networking events.

Yes

They are a large business, meaning you get an opportunity to join lots of different opportunities to get experience in different areas of the business. I feel that they have large apprentice community network which helps support social activities outside to help maintain a good work/life balance.

Understand how your values align with AstraZeneca values and future direction.