Account Manager Review

Item: Account Manager at First Response Finance Limited
Rating: 4.9
Author: Anonymous

at First Response Finance Limited

Degree Apprenticeship

Finance

Leigh, Greater Manchester

Review Submitted: May 2023

Overall Rating

4.9 /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!

4.5/5 - Overview of Role

5/5 - Skills Development

4.8/5 - 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

I interact with customers to help them with any queries or concerns they may have with our agreement. This is usually over the phone but can also include emails and letters. Often these queries involve missed payments and it is my job to help them get back on track. I am also involved in projects outside of my day job and these projects can vary.

To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

5/5

I find the programme very enjoyable. I am well integrated into my day job. I was given good training at the start to ensure that I am able to do my job. I am able to make changes and improvements to the department and use my own skillsets to run projects within these areas.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

5/5

My communication and customer management skills have greatly improved. I have presented different projects to numerous levels of management. I speak with customers on a daily basis and often have challenging conversations which has improved my communication skills also. My project management skills have also improved as I am much more exposed to project management that I every have been before.

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?

5/5

I would attend university for 2 days every 2 weeks. It was 2 full days. I was allocated the time out of work to do this and still received my salary for the days I was in, so there was no financial implications attending. Work were very understanding if I needed more time off and allowed me 5 study days per year to study in my own time.

How much support do you receive from your employer?

5/5

I have a mentor at work who can assist with any assignment work I do and proof read anything I request. I can take time in the work or book study days without using my annual leave allowance. The rest of the business understand I am completing a degree. They assist with my work when they can and will answer questions for me to assist with my assignments.

How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

4/5

Manchester metropolitan university are brilliant. They understand I work full time. Lecturers will ensure there is time when we are on a university day to speak with them. They also give plenty of notice for office hours and will work around standard business hours if I request it. There is also a skills coach who I hold regular reviews with to monitor my progress.

How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

5/5

I have taken things back from university to implement at work and vice versa. I think MMU want to create a program that will fit with all businesses. There are also a number of soft skills I have learnt which have been a great use in my role, such as oral and written communication skills, presenting etc.

Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

5/5

We have a budget allocated to our team every quarter of £32.50 to allow us to go out on social events and team building activities. We have also started to attend company days. There was one in September last year, which involves attending an event where all 250+ staff are invited. There are speeches from the management board before attending activities throughout the day.

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend First Response Finance Limited to a friend?

Yes

Why?

It is a good place to work. I feel valued within the organisation and enjoy the job I do. I have access to other opportunities and development programs. Management are helpful and treat you well. There is opportunity to attend social activities. There is also plenty of time for self development when doing the work.

What tips or advice would you give to others applying to First Response Finance Limited?

When you arrive on the assessment day, just be yourself. It is a tough day but it gives you an idea of what type of company you are applying for. Use the day to judge whether you would enjoy working at that kind of office and reflect on the tasks to see whether you would enjoy the work.

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