Finance Graduate Review

Overall, I would describe my experience at Virgin Media O2 as very positive and rewarding. It’s been a great place to start my career, particularly because of the strong focus on development and early responsibility. As a graduate, you’re trusted to contribute from the outset, while still being supported through training, mentorship, and professional qualifications.
The company has a collaborative and inclusive culture, which makes it easy to build relationships and learn from colleagues across different teams. I’ve also really valued the exposure to various areas of the business, which has helped me develop a broader understanding of how finance supports strategic decision-making.

The main responsibilities of the role involve supporting financial reporting, analysis, and decision-making across the business. This typically includes tasks such as preparing monthly reports, analysing financial performance against budgets and forecasts, and working with different stakeholders to understand key drivers behind the numbers. As a graduate, you’re also involved in projects, process improvements, and gaining exposure to different areas of finance through rotations.

The main responsibilities of the role involve supporting financial reporting, analysis, and decision-making across the business. This typically includes tasks such as preparing monthly reports, analysing financial performance against budgets and forecasts, and working with different stakeholders to understand key drivers behind the numbers. As a graduate, you’re also involved in projects, process improvements, and gaining exposure to different areas of finance through rotations.

Overall, I feel the compensation package is competitive for a graduate role and fairly reflects the level of responsibility and development provided. Alongside the base salary, the support for professional qualifications is a particularly valuable benefit, as it represents a significant investment in your long-term career.

I feel the role is preparing me very well for my future career. The structured nature of the graduate programme, combined with hands-on experience, allows you to build both technical and soft skills from an early stage. Through day-to-day responsibilities like financial analysis, reporting, and stakeholder interaction, you develop a solid foundation that is directly applicable to a wide range of finance roles.
The support towards professional qualifications is also a key part of this, as it complements practical experience with formal learning. Additionally, the exposure to different teams and areas of the business helps build a broader commercial understanding, which is invaluable for long-term career progression.

The level of support I receive is very strong, particularly as part of a graduate programme. There’s a good balance between being given responsibility for your own work and having guidance readily available when needed. Managers and colleagues are approachable and willing to help, which makes it easy to ask questions and learn quickly.
There’s also structured support in place, including regular check-ins, feedback sessions, and mentorship, all of which help track progress and identify areas for development. The support for professional qualifications is another key aspect, with resources and flexibility provided to help balance work and study commitments.

Overall, the work-life balance is generally good, especially for a graduate role. There is a strong emphasis on flexible working, which helps manage both personal commitments and study alongside work. Most of the time, the workload is manageable, and you’re able to maintain a healthy balance.
That said, there are busier periods—such as month-end or key reporting deadlines—where hours can be longer and the pace picks up. Balancing this with studying for professional qualifications can sometimes be challenging. However, the team is understanding, and there is support in place to help manage these demands.

The organisational culture is very collaborative, inclusive, and supportive, which makes it a positive environment to work in—especially as a graduate. There’s a strong emphasis on teamwork, and people are generally approachable and willing to share knowledge, which helps you integrate quickly and build confidence.

I would rate Virgin Media O2’s initiatives in equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility highly. The company places a clear emphasis on creating an inclusive environment where people from different backgrounds feel valued and supported. This is reflected not only in its stated values but also in day-to-day working culture.

Yes

Yes, I would definitely recommend the Virgin Media O2 graduate programme to a friend. It provides a strong foundation for starting a career in finance, with a good balance of hands-on experience, structured learning, and support for professional qualifications.

Overall, the role has matched my expectations quite closely. The recruitment process provided a realistic insight into what the role would involve, including the level of responsibility, the types of tasks, and the collaborative nature of the work. This meant there were no major surprises when starting.