Tag Archives: accounting

Hoi Yan, Banking and Financial Services

Banking and Financial Services, , ,

Hoi Yan, a Finance and Management student, wanted to pursue a career in corporate finance but needed the guidance of a experienced mentor to help her reach this goal. Through the scheme, Hoi Yan was matched with the Head of IPV and Curves for Centrica. This role involves product control, financial control and legal entity control and thereby has extensive experience relating to the finance division of corporate entities. This mentor’s previous work experience includes Vice President for JP Morgan, and he is also ACA qualified.

Hoi Yan achieved all of her objectives including personal target areas of work experience, job requirements and personal developments. Hoi Yan also increased knowledge of job hunting resources, improved knowledge of further professional sources related to this sector and increased knowledge of good and bad aspects of the profession.

Here is what Hoi Yan thought about her experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

During the scheme, I learnt about my career prospects and work experience which are very valuable through my mentor. This gave me an insight of developing my career prospects.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

My mentor’s work experience gave me inspiration for career development. During the mentor scheme, I was able to learn from his work experience and hence develop my personal skills.

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme?

For students who are aggressive and eager to develop career prospects, it is an opportunity to get in touch with professionals. They could acquire best knowledge of their chosen sector and lean work experience from the tutor. It would be a valuable chance to improve their personal skills and create networking opportunities.

Jordan, Financial Markets and the City

economics, Financial Markets and the City, , , , ,

Jordan, an Economics and Finance student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to receive advice and guidance from somebody who understands his position and can advise of where best to target his career efforts. Through the scheme, Jordan was matched with an Investment Director for Lonsdale Capital Partners LLP. This role involves originating, assessing and executing investments and management of portfolios. This mentor is also an ACA qualified accountant.

“It is good to know that my career journey has been helped by having a mentor”

Jordan achieved all of his objectives including widened contacts and networking opportunities, received work experience and job shadowing therefore greatly increasing his knowledge of effective interview techniques in this sector.

Jordan shared his experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

I can see how my path, over the last year, has been positively influenced by having Mr. Knott as a mentor. It is good to know that my career journey has been helped by having a mentor, and I am grateful for the opportunity.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insights into the mentalities/personalities of people working in banks, hedge funds and private equity. Coming from a daunting outsider’s perspective, it was helpful to realise that the people working in these roles are human too.

Sophia, Accounting and Auditing

Accounting and Auditing, Philosophy, Politics and International Relations, , , ,

Sophia, a Philosophy, Politics and Economics student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to further her job prospects and possibilities through advice from an experienced professional. Sophia particularly wanted to gain confidence in her interview techniques and skills. Through the scheme, Sophia was matched with an Accounting and Finance Alumnus who is now a Global Sarbanes Oxley Analyst & CSA Operations Manager for Procter & Gamble. This mentor is certified in Internal Audit and has 11 years of experience in this role, working in over 20 countries.

“Advice that you would not have had the opportunity to get without the scheme.”

Sophia achieved all of her objective including improved knowledge of further education and professional courses related to this sector, increased knowledge of find internships and work experience in this sector and a increased knowledge of job hunting resources in this sector.

Sophia gave us some insight into her experience;

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into possible career paths and what they entailed and help with internship application forms and advice with confidence etc.

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme?

It is a really good source of information and advice that you would not have had the opportunity to get without the scheme.

Adrienne, Accounting and Auditing

Accounting and Auditing, economics, , , ,

Economics student Adrienne participated in the Career Mentor Scheme and was mentored by an Executive Advisor at KPMG LLP. As such his main responsibilities were to identify sales opportunities in Technology Risk and Assurance services and to develop those opportunities into sales. This mentor also managed the delivery of Technology Risk and Assurance services to our organisation’s Construction, Infrastructure, Transport and Public Sector portfolio of clients including agreeing contracts, planning, work on site (fieldwork), financial management and agreeing deliverables with clients.

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Adrienne had an extraordinary experience in the year in which she was part of the scheme.

How do you feel the career mentor scheme has helped you overall?

  • Improved my confidence to seek graduate level employment
  • Improved my personal skills needed for graduate level employment
  • Helped me prepare for my next steps – graduate level employment / further study
  • Professional contacts from networking
  • Made a friend / future professional contact in my mentor
  • Greater idea of what the career path involves (audit)

How do you feel the mentoring process has enhanced your employability?

Gained greater knowledge of the field (audit)(good for interviews), greater knowledge of the professional qualifications open to me after university, improved personal skills (more confidence in interviews) and CV enhancement.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insights into my chosen profession/sector, greater knowledge of the professional qualifications open to me after university.

Why should students apply to have a mentor?

Now I have a greater idea of the career I would like to go into, the possible qualifications that I could partake in after my studies, an insight into where said career could take me. Really great insight!

 

Jaime, Human Resources, Recruitment and Training

Accounting and Finance, Human Resources Recruitment and Training, ,

Coming from an Accounting and Finance degree Jaime wanted to get into the Human Resources, Recruitment and Training sector. She successfully applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to be mentored by a Publicity Manager at Acas.

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Jaime benefited from the mentoring partnership in various ways. This mentor helped Jaime consider the next steps after university and assisted Jaime in developing her professional contacts. Jaime also had her CV improved and received help with application forms.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

The opportunity given to me by my mentor to meet professionals in my sector. She did a lot to give me such opportunities.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Work shadowing, networking opportunities, insight into future graduate career application.

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme? 

Really helpful as long as you do not demand too much of your mentor, and appreciate every opportunity he/she creates for you.

Madeleine, Accounting and Auditing

Accounting and Auditing, economics, , , , ,

Whilst in her final year Madeleine was undecided in terms of whether she should apply to graduate jobs or go travelling. She applied to the Career Mentor Scheme in order to get more guidance and career advice and was matched with the director at the Old Mill Accountancy LLP. This mentor has had a varied career within accountancy, working in different sized organisations and both in and outside London.pic-01

Madeleine found the Career Mentor Scheme really helpful. It helped her improve her confidence and make the decision to apply for graduate schemes. She developed her interview techniques and learned more about what is good and bad about the industry. She also developed her commercial awareness significantly.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The thing I found most useful was what I learned about the accountancy sector. My mentor explained to me about the huge range of challenges facing the accountancy sector which meant that when I got to the interview stage of my assessment centres I was able to really impress the interviewer.

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme?

The mentor scheme is a great opportunity to get a deeper insight into a certain sector that you are interested in. What I learned from my mentor was very useful when I got to interview, as I had more of an understanding of challenges facing the industry. I discussed my professional experiences with my mentor which helped me develop my responses to competency questions and we also discussed the importance of and methods for becoming more commercially aware.

“By debriefing after interviews/assessment centres, I helped her to understand how employers view things and to refine her approach. She succeeded in getting a job offer from the best of the firms that she had applied to, which was a great result.” – Madeleine’s Mentor

Luke, Accounting and Auditing

Accounting and Auditing, Business and Management, , ,

Luke was mentored by an Executive Director at EY, as part of the Career Mentor Scheme. In his role this mentor’s main responsibility is to ensure quality of service delivery to EY’s clients and continued growth of the business.

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Luke had a superb experience participating in the scheme.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

During the scheme I was looking for an industrial placement and my mentor gave me a significant degree of support throughout each of my applications, being willing to read over my applications, give advice on what different companies will be looking for and helping to develop strong examples where I show the competencies they are looking for. I now feel like I am much more competent in the application process and when it comes to applying for graduate roles I should be in good stead.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into the industry I was applying for, which you wouldn’t get unless you speak to someone who is experienced.

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme?

The scheme is the best way to get a true insight into whatever field you are looking to go into.

 

Angel, Management and Consultancy

Accounting and Finance, Management and Consultancy, , ,

Angel applied to the Career Mentor Scheme in order get advice and guidance into Management and Consultancy. Her mentor was the Director of Investment at Dusit International. As such his main responsibilities include studying the investment market for hotels & real estate, raising financing, developing financing structures and negotiating deals.

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Angel talked to us about the benefits of the scheme.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

My mentor has a similar academic background as me, so I found  connection and comfort when talking to him (as we were both oversea students). Knowing what he went through in his career path gave me insights of how I should plan my short term and long term goals in order to stay away from working overtime without this having a purpose.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I did not know enough about the industry as real world experience is always different from myths. He gave me insights into the industry and his comments on my prospective path were really useful.

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme?

This scheme is definitely a really good platform for students who are graduating soon and are not sure what to do. The mentor will guide you, inspire you, help you, just like a good academic tutor would but the mentor does so in your career path.

Chang, Logistics, Supply Chain and Operations

Accounting and Auditing, Accounting and Finance, Logistics Supply Chain and Operations, ,

Through the Career Mentor Scheme Chang, studying Accounting and Finance was matched with a Network Development & Implementation Programme Manager at Fonterra. This mentor has experience in Operations, Consultancy and Purchasing and Procurement. His previous employment includes moving up from Analyst to Consultant, Senior Consultant and finally Manager at Deloitte.

Picture By Jim Wileman -

The Career Mentor Scheme brought many advantages to Chang.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Getting to know my mentor not only as a professional, but also an ordinary person. It was great to learn how a professional can achieve work/life balance and to find out more about my mentor’s view towards careers and various life experiences.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into my chosen sector & Guidance/advice on career options.

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme?

The Career Mentor Scheme is a great way to boost your confidence and communication skill, and it also provides this invaluable opportunity to gain insights into your chosen sector/industry.

“Chang was great, lovely to reconnect with the University and what is happening, plus provide support and guidance to someone at the start of their career” – Chang’s Mentor

 

Chenyun, Accounting and Auditing

Accounting and Auditing, Accounting and Finance, ,

Chenyun wanted to get into the Accounting and Auditing sector. During her year of completing a postgraduate degree in Accounting and Finance she participated in the Career Mentor Scheme and was matched with Director at Old Mill Accountancy LLP.

After graduating from Accountancy Studies in Exeter, this mentor first worked at EY as Corporate Finance Manager for six year. He then moved on to hold the same position at Peplows Chartered Accountants.

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Chenyun found the scheme extremely useful.

I gained passion in my future career and become clearer of what I am after.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I had very little confidence at the beginning. By listening to me talking about my experience, my mentor identified some of my natural strengths that I had never before realized I had, which greatly boosted my confidence. He also gave me a lot of encouragement during the process, and the encouragement from a senior professional really means a lot to me.

From the first meeting until my final work experience with my mentor, he was really passionate about his work, which inspired me greatly.

When I was about to take an assessment centre, I asked my mentor for some help in report writing. He then showed me a report he had just finished and briefly explained it to me. Not only did I gain a rough idea of the format and language required, I also got excited about writing the report and became more determined to pursue the career path I [have chosen].

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The face-to-face meeting made our communication more effective and promoted deeper understanding of each other.

The two-week work experience gave me a real insight into what it is like to work for a UK accountancy firm.

My mentor’s rich experience in working in different sized accountancy firms and coaching has successfully helped me decide which career path I am after and gave me confidence that I can do well in my chosen profession.

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme?

Career Mentor Scheme gives you an excellent opportunity to establish a closer bond with an experienced professional in your ideal career and he/she can be a role model to inspire you in pursuing such career.

This mentor said:

“I felt that I did make a difference to how my Mentee perceived herself and her achievements, in particular, that she demonstrates leadership in all sorts of ways, not necessarily by being nominally the leader.
She came to our office for a couple of weeks work experience and was incredibly hard-working and committed. Most of all though, the staff became more attached to her than possibly any of the other interns we’ve previously had.”