accountant Review

I am a management accountant who partners marketing. I currently work in the home care department and I work across home care helping ensure the teams are following their yearly budgets. My day to day role will include answering ad hoc emails about finance quires but also going into meeting with my marketer and making sure they are forecasting correctly.

I have firstly developed my soft skills in Unilever by making sure I am able to structure emails properly and explain my point to no finance people. I have also improve on my public speaking as I have been taking finance training and I had to mange presenting Budget training to the global marketers.

I have enjoyed my program as I feel like I am making a difference to my team but also in Unilever at a total level. I have been given tasks what are business critical so it gives me a great sense of accomplishment once achieving the task. I also enjoy my sub tasks like going in for apprentice days.

From my personally experience the work side has been very structed for me within my team I have a supportive line manger and also a "buddy" who I can go to if things get tough. However on the apprenticeship side it has not gone to plan as I was "over qualified for the role" but didn't not find this out until six months In ! So I was not able to take any of my professional exams and have been stuck in limbo.

I have received great support from my team members always offering a helping hand when I'm in need. Also Unilever have a great apprenticeship network and you are able to catch of with on the various apprentice if you want ask silly question. You also have a training provider representative that checks up on you once month.

Due to my circumstances I haven't received that much support as, they would not let me take an exam. However there was weekly lectures on our study day and we also received the course books for all topics. It would of been good to have received some mock exams.

I believe speaking from my past accounting qualifications (AAT) is pivotal in my role as I have had the background accounting knowledge to start working within a team. Another great skill AAT teaches is how to improve your excels skills this is great as an accounting you are using spreadsheets 90% of the time and its a great skill to already have.

Yes since covid-19 Unilever have been doing virtual quiz nights where we join through teams relax and answer friendly questions. Before the lockdown the apprentices would plan once a month apprentice drinks where we could all socialise and have some down time. Within my team I also attended a PowerBi training session where I was able to improve my skills.

Yes

Unilever is a great company with lots of different roles and teams so there really is a place for anyone. Unilever also has a great culture where everyone is friendly and willing to help. There are lots of other apprentice and staff members who have been in the same shoes as you so they know what you are going through.

I would say be yourself and come with a positive attitude, if you don't know a topic always ask questions until you understand the topic. You should make sure you are passionate about you role because sometime the work may seem overwhelming so you will need to be committed. Finally as Unliever is such a massive company I would say good communication skills is key.