Eva
Rosa

Current job role: Auditor Analyst
Company name: Deloitte LLP
Graduated: 2017

What did you study and where before joining Nottingham Business School?

I did a Bachelor’s Technology in Accounting and Finance, in the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), which was at the time the Polytechnic of Namibia.

When choosing a Masters degree, what did you consider it important to have?

For me it was a multicultural environment, work-based learning and work opportunities. All of these were offered by Nottingham Business School.

What were your reasons for studying a master’s degree and why did you choose Nottingham Business School?

I chose to study a master’s degree because I wanted to enhance my previous qualification. I felt like I needed more understanding of both the finance and accounting fields and I didn’t quite feel like I was a graduate yet.

Nottingham Business School appealed to me because of the popularity in terms of international students, and I chose NBS because of the location, the infrastructure and the modules offered in my chosen field.

Why did you choose to study MSc Finance and Accounting and what did you enjoy?

I chose to study MSc Finance and Accounting because of my career goal of becoming a forensic auditor. I understand that a strong base in accounting, finance and knowledge of the business world are very important to achieve my goal, so I wanted to improve in those areas.

I really enjoyed the modules that I studied on the degree. I like the fact that we make use of real life case studies to relate to the concepts that we are learning. For example, in Corporate Governance we looked at WorldCom, Satyam, etc., and assessed the absence of some aspects of recommended best practice.

I also liked the fact that, we are given projects that require analysis on existing companies rather than fictitious ones, allowing me to undertake market research and be familiar with the data available. For example, in Corporate Finance, I performed a business valuation of EasyJet, and could really understand its market, its position as well as its value.

Another example was in Financial Statements Analysis, where I had to look at Unilever, and learnt to look beyond the numbers and or ratios, and to critically assess the performance of the company.

Describe what your seminars are like and how they differ from your undergraduate experience?

While my undergraduate based more on teachings from the lecturer, and working individually; my Master’s classes are more interactive, and possess more group work.  Everyone feels free to ask questions and to contribute. We look at aspects which are relevant to the industry, and which we can easily relate to. Group discussion is more encouraged, which allows for constructive exchange of ideas.

What are the key skills you have developed studying at NBS?

I think the most important skill I definitely developed was critical thinking. The ability to question the information and not just take it at face value was something repeatedly required on the modules and which I found to be very important. Another important skill was the ability to work as part of a team, which is something that at first it was a little bit of a problem for me because of the different cultures involved, but I was able to develop my skills here.

Communication skills would definitely be another skill I have developed because of the amount of presentations and reports that I had to do. However, I have to say that they were worth it, and I also had significant support with the English sessions.

How has the master’s degree differed from your undergraduate experience?

I felt as if my undergraduate was mostly based on concepts and I failed to understand the applicability of these concepts in the industry. I didn’t have the mind-set of understanding and applying knowledge and I challenged myself with the master’s degree to have a deeper understanding of the concepts and to learn how to apply them instead of just memorising them.

How do you think the degree will help you in your future career?

I think the deeper academic knowledge and the skills that I developed will be very useful for a forensic auditor, especially in such fast-paced environment.

Do you feel that your overall experience in the programme will make you more employable?

Yes, Definitely! I am also more culturally aware and adaptable, which are valuable abilities for an individual who wants to work within a growing market.

Have you benefited from the services provided by the Employability Team?

Yes, definitely! I went about three times to the employability team, and each time I went I received constructive suggestions to improve my CV and to market my key skills accordingly.

How have you found moving to and living in Nottingham?

I believe I actually had a smooth transition process, with no dramas, or serious issues. I had a friend here who received me and helped me to connect with other friends. I also easily adapt, so it was not a problem for me, and I enjoyed it.

I’ve always dreamt of coming to the UK, and when I finally did, I liked it. Two things that really surprised me were, firstly the politeness of the people, how they always smile, and call you sweet names when they don’t know yours.

Secondly, how approachable employers and lecturers are, like there is no need for bureaucracy, everyone at postgraduate level, treats you like a colleague.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about applying for the programme?

Be open-minded and determined to get the best out of it.

What are your short term and long term career plans?

My long-term goal is still to become a forensic auditor and now I have plans of applying for graduate training programmes in accounting firms. NBS definitely helped me to look at different ways I could achieve my career goal and even provided some other options which I also found interesting, such as becoming a credit analyst or business analyst.

Do you have a part-time job in Nottingham?

Yes! I am a part-time sales assistant at Jack Wills in Nottingham. I process transactions, assist customers during their purchase and manage stock. Because I only work for a few hours during weekends, I am able to allocate time for my coursework during the weekend, as well as during the weekdays that I don’t have seminars.

How has your course benefited your employer / your business?

My communication skills allowed me to speak more confidently with customers. My accounting and numerical skills are very useful for processing transactions such as refunds and exchanges.