Allan Todd
Degree: Economics, University of Birmingham
Programme: Commercial Credit
Favourite toy as a kid: Scalextric
Starting work in an institution as big as RBS could be a little challenging but every possible stop is pulled out to make that not so. In the first seven weeks of my career, I spent a fortnight training with my team and a further month in London with all the other graduates.
This cultivated a collegiate atmosphere that pervades the entire Group. I’m in the Commercial Credit team in Birmingham – I was assigned a buddy. He talked me through what I’d be doing and alerted me to the things I’d need to look out for. A week later, I was assigned to a dedicated training team, who took me through the live files, and remained on hand afterwards in case I needed any further help.
With preparation so thorough and assistance so readily available, it’s easy to feel confident and comfortable. My job is very technical, and the standard expected of me is very high, so it would be wrong to say there weren’t moments when things seemed challenging. However those moments were fleeting because of the support structure, and the more help I get, the more assured I become, the better I perform.
In credit, we need to deliver innovative solutions to our customers. This means that I’m constantly thinking creatively, first in trying to help them maximise their funds and then in managing the risk effectively.
The most enjoyable aspect of my role is working closely within a small team. There’s great camaraderie in the office, and with work that’s as varied as the people I do it with, I look forward to coming in every morning.
Once I joined the Group, I was particularly taken with how dedicated everyone around me was to helping me plan my future career. As well as the impetus of just being on the graduate scheme, every graduate manager takes an interest in driving you to develop and improve. This doesn’t come about just via the particular work that you do, but through opportunities to lead, learn new skills and gain additional qualifications.
My first placement at RBS was in Group Technology Finance. During that time, I was involved in a number of high profile and challenging ventures. Specifically, I worked on a very important benchmarking project. I was called upon to investigate and analyse competitor information, and use this data to assess RBS against a specific competitor group. This required me to prepare a presentation for senior members of my group, to deal with external contacts and to handle sensitive information.
A good work-life balance is essential to employment at RBS. We all work hard, but equally, we’re expected to enjoy life outside of the office. A similarly caring approach is taken to professional qualifications. Study days and study leave provide plenty of time for revision, but care is also taken to make sure that you remain connected to your business area.
In the immediate future, I intend to complete the graduate programme and my Management Accountancy exams, and then progress to a permanent management role within RBS. There are so many opportunities; it’s hard to say where I’ll be beyond then!
