Chris Victor - BSc Hons Finance, Accounting and Management with placement
Chris Victor, a BSc Hons Finance, Accounting and Management student, spent his placement year as an Audit Assistant at Cooper Parry, a leading accounting firm in the East Midlands.
During his placement (2023-24), Chris contributed to a variety of projects, both professional and community-based. As part of Cooper Parry’s annual volunteering day, his team volunteered at a local community youth centre helping with renovations. He also organised social events for new starters in the East Midlands audit team. Both experiences not only helped build friendships but also enhanced his placement experience.
Chris’s role involved working closely with various teams to conduct audits, performing transactional testing, and ensuring key areas of financial accounts were thoroughly examined.
Developing skills in a supportive environment
Cooper Parry encourages continuous learning and skills development.
Reflecting on his experience, Chris shared: “I was constantly challenged and encouraged to take on new areas of work to expand my audit knowledge, allowing me to progress beyond my initial expectations.”
The Business School’s Placements Team provided Chris with support throughout his placement year. He added: "The team ensured we had monthly check-ins through calls and attendance checks, which helped keep track of our progress and well-being. We also had in-person workplace visits which enabled me to discuss my experience and reflect on my development."
Overcoming challenges
One of Chris's biggest challenges was working on audits with smaller teams early in his placement when he was still building confidence in his abilities. He said: "At first, I felt out of my depth when handling work, and I wasn’t entirely sure how to complete it, especially with tight deadlines. I learned the importance of simply asking for help - it can feel daunting but understanding that it’s okay to ask for guidance was important for my personal and professional growth. It benefited both me and my team."
Skills and personal development
Throughout his placement, Chris developed a range of transferable skills that have been invaluable in his final year and will benefit his future career, he explained:
“My placement experience has helped me to become a lot more focused and committed to my final year studies. The knowledge and skills I picked up can be applied to my studies but have also increased my ambition to achieve higher grades and reach my full potential.”
Chris believes his placement increased his confidence, commenting: "Throughout the year, I was pushed outside my comfort zone - whether it was taking on challenging tasks or speaking with leaders. By the end of the placement, these things felt second nature. I can confidently say that I’m now a more self-assured and ambitious person than when I started."
Reflections and advice on the placement year
Chris believes that completing a placement year enhances employability. For students considering a placement year, he advises:
The job market is very competitive, and many graduates struggle to secure roles due to the number of applicants with similar qualifications. Undertaking a placement is invaluable as it can help you stand out from other graduates. You might even be offered a graduate role offer from your placement employer - which I was lucky enough to receive.
Anyone thinking about undertaking a placement as part of your degree, I would strongly encourage you to consider it. The experience has helped shape me into the person I am today and taught me skills I believe are essential to have before going into the world of work after graduation. At the very least, you will get a better idea what type of job role you want, and you’ll have a competitive edge over other graduates. There really isn’t much to lose and more to gain.
