University attended: Nottingham Trent University
Degree: Economics
Office location: Stratford-upon-Avon
Department, team or function: Finance
What first attracted you to NFU Mutual?
What really drew me to NFU Mutual was the rare combination of a values-driven culture and the opportunity to gain high-level experience and development within the finance division of a major company. The mutual ethos fosters a more customer-focused environment, and the company’s consistent recognition through Gallup Exceptional Workplace awards gave me the impression of a business that genuinely cares about its people and purpose.
At the same time, I knew that working in finance at a company of this stature and complexity would challenge me to develop a broad and practical skillset. That balance of care and professional challenge made NFU Mutual stand out to me among other graduate employers.
How does the graduate scheme work?
I am on the Finance Graduate Scheme, where you can be placed in any of the Properties Finance, Financial Planning & Analysis, or Financial Reporting & Control departments. Gaining exposure to both management and reporting accounting. As part of the scheme you are supported in gaining accountancy qualifications, personally I am on the CIMA FLP route.
What do you like best about your job?
The combination of hands-on experience, professional development, and the opportunity to work across different areas of finance makes the scheme a great foundation for a career in the industry.
I also really value how tangible the work is, being able to see the investments we manage and understand their real-world impact has made the work feel more meaningful. It’s helped deepen my understanding and supported my development in a way that’s hard to replicate in less visible areas of finance.
How are you supported in your role?
As part of the graduate scheme, I’ve taken part in a range of development activities designed to build both technical and soft skills. These have included training sessions on Insights, presentation skills, effective influencing, resilience, and time management; all of which have helped me grow professionally and personally.
In my day-to-day role, I’ve also developed my Excel skills and deepened my accounting knowledge, particularly through hands-on tasks and responsibilities. Studying towards my CIMA qualification has further supported this development by giving me a broader understanding of financial principles, and technical accounting knowledge. This has helped me considerably with the month-end and quarter-end reporting parts of my role.
What has been your proudest moment so far?
One of my biggest achievements so far has been helping to improve the investment forecasting process within the Property Finance Team. I played a key role in facilitating the implementation of a monthly reforecasting process, which enabled the Property Investment Team to work with more complete and timely updates. This has allowed for more accurate and up-to-date information, supporting better decision-making and adding real value to the team’s strategic planning.
In addition, I’ve contributed to enhancing the overall forecasting file fixing issues, improving functionality, and adding new elements to allow for greater insight and accuracy. These improvements were well received and have helped strengthen the strategy, awareness and responsiveness of the Property Investment Team.
What advice would you have for someone starting out?
Make sure you’re well prepared, take the time to research the company and the role to ensure it aligns with your goals and values. That understanding will help you speak with confidence and authenticity throughout the process.
If you’re fortunate enough to attend the in-person assessment days or interviews, be friendly and approachable with both the other candidates and the assessors, whilst maintaining a professional manner. It’s a great opportunity to show who you are and how you work with others.
Personally, I made sure to thoroughly prepare for my presentation by researching the topic in depth and creating a complete, professional-looking slide deck. I also focused on understanding the content well enough to speak around the slides confidently, which I believe helped me make a strong impression.
Preparation was equally important for the interview stage. As someone who had never been interviewed before, I dedicated time to understanding the types of questions I might be asked and how to answer them using the STAR technique. This meant that even when faced with unexpected questions, I was able to respond clearly and effectively.
How did you find the onboarding experience?
My onboarding experience at NFU Mutual was a great introduction to the business. The first week, organised by HR for all new graduates, was a fantastic opportunity to meet others across different departments and build connections through a mix of informative sessions and fun social activities. We also had the chance to hear directly from senior leaders, including directors and the CEO, which gave me a real sense of the company’s values and direction.
When I joined the Properties team, I had a series of introductory meetings with department leaders and was given tasks designed to help me understand the team’s work and settle in; I was even fortunate enough to visit one of our investment properties as well as an agency. This structured approach gave me a strong foundation and made me feel supported from day one. Following this I had three weeks to study for the Cert CII qualification, providing a greater understanding of the insurance industry as a whole.
What is your current role?
I’m currently part of the Property Finance Team at NFU Mutual. Most of my work focuses on the property investment side, where I’m involved in forecasting, financial analysis, and risk management. I also support the management accounting function by overseeing some of the property cost centres and contributing to the monthly expense reporting, as well as budgetary forecasting, and planning. The role has given me a great balance of strategic insight and hands-on financial experience. I particularly enjoy the opportunities I’ve had to hone my technical skills through complex excel work, such as forecasting.
What sets the Properties department apart is the breadth of professions and the variety of work being done, which makes it a dynamic and engaging place to be. The diversity of roles brings together people with different backgrounds and expertise, creating a collaborative and stimulating environment.
Interested in joining NFU Mutual?
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