Finance Graduate Review
at Centrica British Gas
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Accounting, Finance
Windsor
Review Submitted: March 2023
Overall Rating
3.6 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
There are three rotations on the Centrica Finance Graduate scheme. My first was in Treasury where I mainly focused on back office operations and cash management. I am now in a Business Unit of Centrica, CBS Supply in a Finance Partnering role. I perform as hoc financial analysis, create plans, and do reporting.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I enjoy getting to try three different roles. I also enjoy having a graduate community that is encouraged to have socials and spend time together. I wish that there was more of an emphasis on exams and perhaps incentives and guides to completing them. It sometimes feels like you're left to deal with that aspect completely by yourself.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I had previously never studied or worked in Finance. Doing the ICAEW ACA qualification so far has taught me a lot about business, finance, and accounting. Before Centrica, I had only ever worked as a freelance tutor, so being part of a large company has also taught me a lot.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
I like the overall structure and the fact there is a graduate talent board to oversee the scheme. I wish the graduate talent board would be more open about reviews and their roles instead of it being dependant on graduates to reach out to someone they haven't met before.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
My manager is great and extremely supportive. The graduate community is also really helpful. The employer as a whole could do with providing more support around exams and career progression. When starting the scheme, it was unclear how exams worked and it is very much up to the individual to reach out for help. Also not enough study days to do college fully.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
My manager is great and extremely supportive. The graduate community is also really helpful. The employer as a whole could do with providing more support around exams and career progression. When starting the scheme, it was unclear how exams worked and it is very much up to the individual to reach out for help. Also not enough study days to do college fully.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
Yes, in my current role it helps to know accounting terms and some bookkeeping as well as some assurance techniques. Otherwise, as I am in industry and not in financial control, the help it provides is limited. In my last role in Treasury, it was extremely limited with only one mention of it in my studies.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
Social events are organised by fellow graduates, which are great. There are engagement days were we come together to speak about the grad scheme which are also useful. Professional networking events and/or more regular catch ups with the talent board would be appreciated though. It would also be good to have the company organising more.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Centrica British Gas to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Great colleagues
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Centrica British Gas?
It is important to be focused on the future and longer term goals. There are a lot of outdated processes and mentalities around using new tools and improving things, but it is worth the effort. It's also easy to get caught up in the detail, but important to keep core values and goals in mind.
