Aviva |

This might seem a long time, but it has really flown by. Choosing Aviva back then was a bit of a close call. I had offers from a couple of other competitors. The clear stand out issue that swayed me to join Aviva was a combination of work-life balance and the finance scheme itself.

The opportunity to move to different cities across different businesses, including the opportunity to move globally, was a key factor.

I have had numerous roles including being the Business Manager to the UK Chief Operating Officer. That was a tough role with a steep learning curve, but the most rewarding opportunity! I now lead the IT Finance Business Partnering team.

I have always been fascinated by how things work and I love to question everything. I guess you could call me an ‘overthinker’ – I always consider hypothetical situations and the ‘what ifs’. For my role with Aviva this has proved a real strength.

As a Business Analyst, I need to see the big picture, but I also need to consider every detail. We have to make sure all perspectives – from the business, to the technical team, to the end user – are factored into any product or service we deliver.

Right now, I’m working on enriching the information on our Connect Adviser site. This will help to make life easier for our Advisers and reduce calls into the call centres. Working on delivering new features means that my day-to-day work is always changing. In turn, this means that I’m always having to learn, which I really enjoy. By the time a feature is being delivered, I can be on a totally different delivery. That means starting the process again and learning a whole new set of information and skills – something that makes sure I never stop growing and developing in my role.

In my university days, I worked in a restaurant that was incredibly fast-paced. I had to be really well organised and juggle different priorities, which has served me well in my job as a project manager in the Change & Transformation space. I didn’t realise at the time, but it also taught me a lot about managing relationships, which has proved invaluable when it comes to engaging with colleagues, including members of the senior leadership team.

I actually studied Musical Theatre, which may not seem the most obvious path to the job I do now. But it’s certainly helped with some of the projects I’ve been involved with outside work. There are so many amazing things you can dedicate your volunteering days to. On one occasion, I was able to run a workshop, teaching young children with learning disabilities to sing and dance!

I saw Aviva’s graduate careers advertised online and did some research before I applied. I’ve still been surprised by how invested everyone is in my learning and career. There’s never been any pressure to know everything. I’ve been on several courses since starting and my team has been great at having sessions with me on various parts of the business and different projects.

Software engineering is problem solving, which I thoroughly enjoy. And at Aviva, I’m creating solutions for real-world problems. The point of technology is to make people’s lives better and I enjoy knowing that my work will be used to help others.

After graduating with a degree in Biochemistry, I wanted something new. The Aviva Accountancy Graduate Scheme gave me a chance to advance the data-based problem-solving skills I’d learnt during my studies, but also develop my financial and business knowledge as I rotated through my placements.

I’ve already been involved in expense modelling, business partnering, competitor analysis, and project management, along with learning how to use and interpret data from key planning analytics tools. I have recently started my third placement in Capital and Investment Management, which may be my favourite one yet! The chance to study for a professional qualification alongside all this was something I really valued.

Since day one, I have felt valued and welcome at Aviva. Everyone I’ve met has been keen on hearing my input and I’m always encouraged to challenge the way things are done. I’m looking forward to developing my career further at Aviva.