FP&AI Finance Intern Review

As an intern in the Central Finance team for International DTC and Networks, I assist in consolidating financial information from the different global hubs (EMEA, APAC and LATAM).
My work involves following monthly deadlines, for example, the pacing that occurs at the end of the month, and also ad-hoc tasks given to me by either others in my team, or in different departments. My role heavily involves the use of Excel, BPC and SAP.

Due to the timing of my placement, I believe the responsibility I was given was limited. Due to restructure in my team, many tasks that my previous intern would've carried out independently were divided between another colleague. Furthermore, the start of the internship coincided with a major deadline, and due to my lack of experience, I was unable to contribute to the team to my fullest potential, and found myself asking for extra work often.
Throughout the internship, I felt that I was constantly asking for more work, including from other departments, unrelated to finance.

As for technical skills, I was taught how to use new financial software such as BPC and SAP. I have developed my Excel and PowerPoint skills greatly due to their frequent use.

I received guidance with 1-2-1 weekly meetings with my line manager, and initially had team meetings although they stopped in the new year. The company offered mentoring opportunities with a sector of your choice which was greatly helpful, and other employees were very willing to meet for coffee chats for further insights or advice about their roles.

The entire company culture was very welcoming - my team were especially friendly and accommodating towards me. The atmosphere was not stressful at all and a lot more casual than most finance opportunities.

My enjoyment of the placement was mixed. On one hand, I absolutely loved the company culture and the people I worked with. However, I found the role itself quite underwhelming. Despite regularly asking for more work, there often wasn’t much available for me to do, which left me feeling like I wasn’t making a meaningful impact. While the downtime made the placement quite relaxing, it eventually became too quiet and unengaging. Overall, it was great to work for such a reputable company however, the experience didn’t meet my expectations in terms of development.

Yes