Financial Specialist Review

My role is a financial specialist in the accounts office of an Insurance Call Centre. On a daily basis I reconcile payments, control accounts and deal with clerk queries to correct faults; on a monthly basis I prepare balance sheet reconciliations for a variety of accounts and prepare payments to underwriters.

The apprenticeship programme is enabling me to complete the ACCA accountancy qualification while working full time in an accounts role. I have been working in an accounts environment for over 15 years, so the programme has developed skills I already have and has allowed me to update them to match a modern work place.

I enjoy the challenge of the programme and the new skills I'm learning daily. It is very intense to complete a professional qualification alongside a full time job; but this has improved my organisational and time keeping skills significantly. It also gives me opportunities to work with people in the organisation who I wouldn't normally be involved with, so expanding my work network too.

As I am part of the first group of apprentices in the company the first couple of weeks were slightly jumbled; however, since then the structure has improved and I feel supported by the process. I have a talent coach that I'm in touch with regularly for guidance and have a apprenticeship team I can contact within the company.

I receive a lot of support from my immediate team; they arrange work patterns to allow me to study effectively, help me to time study leave and provide opportunities for on the job training in the office to meet my 20% requirement. I also have the support of the apprentice team

I receive enough support from my training provider to pass all attempted exams to date. I complete an online on demand course; this meets my needs to be able to time study around differing work needs and busy times. I also have a tutor I can email at any time with query's and to explain any subjects I'm struggling with.

My qualification is a specific accountancy qualification so helps me to preform better in my current role and will be very helpful in furthering career. Completing the qualification and the apprenticeship tasks set by the provider give a better understanding of the environment I work in and the business itself.

There are some extra curricular activities offered, but as I work in a smaller office these are more limited than those at our head office. There are lots of regular events in the office around the world cup, Christmas, Halloween and smaller events on a team level - bake off for example.

Yes

The AA is a very diverse workplace and there are a lot of opportunities if you put yourself forward. There is a lot of support if you want to work toward a qualification or improve your skills in the workplace; your are able to work towards your own personal goals.

The AA is an established company so I would advise looking at the history of the business to understand its ethos and way of working prior to applying. It is also a forward looking company so you should be bringing something positive to the team, think about what you would add.