Finance apprentice Review

I am employed in the Financial control and analysis team and my responsibilities include pack production and bespoke client reporting. Recently I have also had the chance to get involved with month end processes with entities and this will continue to become a larger part of my role throughout the coming months as well as low level business partnering commentary. Other projects which I am also becoming more involved in which I didn't expect to be wen I started my role is the automation of processes in order to allow my colleges and I to do more high level analysis of accounts rather than having to complete tasks which could be done quicker.

I have learned more than I could have imagined I would have in the first few months of my apprenticeship. Not only the obvious technical qualifications which I am studying but also through the classes put on by Schroders which cover topics such as Building resilience or Time management, all of which are taught by seasoned professionals who really help to ensure you learn as much as possible. I have also learned a lot from my team who have been very supportive and patient which I believe has allowed me to develop as efficiently as I have been and has started to be recognised by more senior members of the team which is obviously very important. Finally, the one to one with my manager every week has allowed me to track the progress I have made and has taught me how to evaluate myself which is an important skill I hadn't used much in the past before starting with Schroders.

I enjoy coming into work every day as I know that I am going to be challenged and I am going to develop myself. There is a lot of hard work involved but the rewards make it worth the effort I have invested into ensuring that the programme works for me. The company culture is one that has allowed me to enjoy myself as everyone is genuinely friendly and welcoming and the modern way that everyone works allowed me to adapt to working life quickly after coming in straight from sixth form. The programme itself is new to Schroders so it was hard to know what to expect when I first started but I can honestly say I couldn't have wanted to be in a better situation than I am in at Schroders.

My line managers made it clear from the start that the work I was doing was crucial to allowing the team to be able to do what they needed to do, therefore I have always felt valued in my role. I do believe that this will continue as my technical knowledge increases as I will be able to tackle more challenging work which will further my development and allow me to become even more of an asset to the team.

The L&D team at Schroders is very well organised and always has everything sorted on time and ensures our education is of the top level with constant communication with us and our mentors at the learning provider. The induction we received was brilliant and allowed all the apprentices to get to know each other meaning that social meetings outside of work occur which allows us to learn more about the different departments within the business. As for my team, organisation is key so that we keep to deadlines and ensure clients get the data they need on time.

Tutors at Kaplan are really good and helpful, they reply to emails within 1 working day and there is an alternative "contact a tutor" section on the website. Talent coach/Mentor is also very helpful with exam bookings and general progress updates.

My team as a whole have been really supportive through helping me through my studies and planning my workload around revision. I have weekly catch ups with my line manager to ensure that I am developing and happy with everything. Overall something I have found with working at Schroders is that people her want to help you develop as the senior members are well aware that we are their investment in the future of Schroders so it will pay off for them in the long run to be patient with us.

The wage structure for apprentices at Schroders is very generous and allows you to comfortably be able to support yourself throughout day to day life without having to rely on others such as parents to finance anything. Season ticket loans for the tube is also really helpful as it means you never have to worry about topping up an oyster and the payment is taken straight from your wage each month so you notice it less. Working in London does mean that going out to eat or socialise can be expensive but the Schroders social team are really good at putting on events such as the social night which are at discounted prices, meaning that you can enjoy nights out with your team.

Schroders offer many different sports and social clubs that you can join which allow you to network with like minded people throughout the business and these are really well advertised through internal communications over email. Also Schroders offer extra days off annually where you can go and volunteer meaning that you get the chance to help the community whilst knowing that you can afford to give your time up.

Yes

Schroders is a company where as long as you give your best and work hard you will develop as a professional, and that is rare among the top companies so it is special for one of the top Asset managers in the world to have that culture. I believe that anyone who wants to make a career in any type of professional role Schroders can be a great path to start on and develop. A major characteristic of Schroders employees is that once you begin here you don't want to leave as Schroders is a place where people can succeed and enjoy their working lives.

Get a good understanding of the history, culture and values of Schroders before applying. Ensure that you portray that you are willing to work hard on assessment days as there are many applicants who are all very similar academically so you have to stand out.