Following the acquisition of pubs from Punch Taverns, tripling the size of the existing Star Pubs & Bars estate, I moved into the Commercial Finance Manager role.The role and the team business partner the Star Operations Teams, supporting and challenging them to drive business performance whilst also playing a vital role into the Star Pubs Capex sign off process.

The role was a Finance Controller business partnering the regional Star Pubs & Bars Operations teams. I provided them with insight and analysis as well as challenging them on the commerciality of the decisions that they made. In addition I focused on cross-regional initiatives such as budgeting, the annual Estates Review as well as playing a key role in a number of pub acquisitions and disposals.

The role was a Senior Finance Analyst business partnering the regional Star Pubs & Bars Operations teams. I provided them with insight and analysis as well as challenging them on the commerciality of the decisions that they made.

My first 6 months were spent working on a project that aimed to better determine the profitability of our customers.I now support the Consumer book by analysing and reporting on business performance, reporting and forecasting budgets and providing financial support on new propositions.

I joined the Bupa Finance Graduate Programme in 2008 and carried out 2 year long placements whilst on the scheme.

During this role I worked in the Commercial Finance team providing support to the Consumer part of the business. This involved:-Working closely with sales functions to develop and model new Performance Related Pay schemes for their teams, preparing analysis and summarising the feasibility of the schemes-Monthly production of the Personal Debt Report achieved by manipulating data from the Financial Reporting team-Compiling potential costs for part of a future project by ascertaining reasonable assumptions, liaising with other departments and successfully designing the model-Providing valuable support to a Senior Manager in the production of the 3 Year Plan forecast and cost benefit analysis for the Business Case of a future project

My first placement on the Finance Graduate Programme was in the Management Accounts team in the Care Services division of the business. It involved preparing and posting month end journals, monthly reporting of business performance as well as assisting with the annual forecasting process.