I am responsible for identifying and tracking Port tariffs, this entails effective communication with our Port Agents worldwide, to ensure we are budgeting and forecasting based on the most up to date information.As a department we build a bottom up budget for all CUK Ships calling to all Ports for the following year. My role in this process is a validator; as a validator we take an even cut of the number of ports and then liaise with the Port Agents to calculate the estimated cost of a port call. My main task at Carnival is the recovery of Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses (TF&PE’s) for U.S. passengers. This involves the assignment of accurate TF&PE’s to Cunard passenger bookings. I am responsible for launch numbers which are calculated two years prior to the cruise sailing. I then do a 120 Day update, which is a review of the costs 120 days before the cruise sails. Again these processes include a lot of communication with our Port Agents worldwide.As the above work can be very expensive for the business from a cost perspective, we have a process in place whereby out finance partners perform checks on it before it is passed through for payment, this is known as a B-C check. My role in the B-C check is to help resolve and queries from the finance team, as my understanding of the port costs is of a high level.I am also involved in the tracking of repeating initiatives in our department. As a business we have lots of agreements and discounts with certain ports, as the invoices come in for our port calls I help to track whether these discounts are being applied. If they are not, I contact the port agents via a phone call or e-mail to resolve the issue.

After completing my placement year at Radian, I was asked to remain on the casual pool once I finished my final year at University. I have been given work to help cover holidays and sickness for full time staff. Usually I am asked to process invoices for the purchase ledger side, however I have done other tasks including: archiving, using excel spreadsheets, answering the phones, etc.

As a temporary role I worked in the finance department of a BMW dealership in Eastleigh. My main duties involved the daily banking for the business, invoice processing (payables and receivables), and answering the phones.

Throughout my time at Sixth form and University, I worked part-time as a lifeguard at David Lloyd Leisure. My tasks ranged from maintaining the pool rules, completing the pool tests for chlorine levels, and keeping poolside clean. I also helped out with setting up various sports classes that were ongoing at the club such as aqua aerobics, spinning classes, etc.

As part of my degree I was given the option of taking an industrial placement in the 3rd yea. I undertook this in the finance department at Radian Group, a housing association based near Southampton. During the placement I worked on both sides of the department: purchase ledger and sales ledger. My tasks included invoice processing, using excel spreadsheets, phone calls to residents, archiving, and any other general office duties.