Insider profil
Keen to receive questions about
Top Insider Advice
I started as a Pensions Administrator when I first joined the company. Since then, I have worked in Finance, Mortgages, Testing and then onto Analysis where I became a Lead managing others to develop in their role. The company is large, and opportunities are presented regularly to allow you to try out jobs you may have an interest in until you find the right job for you. The company also supports staff in life changing events allowing me to go part time and then when the kids are older to increase my hours to ensure I have the right work life balance.
Career path
Lead Business Analyst
Phoenix Group
Started 01/1994 to PresentCompany
What do you like about your job and the company?
No two days are ever the same working on Projects. Moving from one project to another allows me to widen my stakeholder engagement skills and learn about new things every day. All stakeholders have different expectations, so I find it a challenge to work out with new ones their preferred method of engagement. You never know which projects you will be allocated to, and the variety keeps me interested in my job. Every new project feels like a new start in a new job and helps to ensure you are never disengaged as you need to try to form new working relationships to deliver the end goal.
Greatest achievements
I was part of a team to introduce an Interactive Voice Recognition system into Standard Life Bank which reduced the headcount to deal with mundane/repetitive customer requests allowing the Customer Service Representatives to handle more complex calls with customers and the solicitors we engaged with. The implementation went so well we were recognised and awarded a Customer Service Innovation Award up against other leading Pension, Assurance and Banking providers. The Interactive Voice Recognition system was then introduced to the wider Pension and Assurance side of the business resulting in huge Customer Service Representative efficiencies and a better customer service provision.
Navdish W
Top Insider Advice
Throughout my career I have taken risks - I quit a role with no job lined up and more recently left a permanent position to join Phoenix on a 12-month fixed term contract, three years on I am still here (after securing a permanent position!). I appreciate not everyone is in a position to do this but those risks have truly paid off in shaping my career.
Simon I
Facilities Project Manager
Top Insider Advice
Always have a career plan, no matter how vague and set your self targets/goals that you want. Be flexible though, as sometimes you may need to take an indirect route to get to your next goal. Opportunities will come along that might not be an exact fit to the plan, sometimes you will use your head and other times your heart to choose whether to take up an opportunity but keep the plan in the back of your mind at all times. Its good to always consult your friends or colleagues, be prepared to be challenged, embrace this though, do not fight it. You should always listen and take account of both sides an argument, that way you can make and take informed decisions and actions. No such thing as failure and do not be afraid to make mistakes, no matter how careful you are, they will happen, so don't stress it, use that energy for getting things done. When mistakes do happen, own them, be accountable and learn from them. Your mistakes and those made by others are all part of what makes you. They are as important was your successes and make sure you add them to your building experience and knowledge. These lessons can be applied anywhere and will increase your personal resilience. You own your career, no one else, take those opportunities that fit.
Stuart T
Operational Governance & Control Consultant
Top Insider Advice
When i joined the first financial institution i worked for, initially working in customer services, i had two goals in mind: 1. I knew Customer Services was not for me long-term, and i wanted to move to a more admin based role as soon as possible. I achieved this within a year of joining the first financial institution i worked for. 2. Standard Life had a great reputation and were well known in the City i worked in as being a great place to work. When i took my first job in financial services my goal was to ultimately join Standard Life but i knew i required some experience in the industry before doing so. After two years in Financial Services i successfully applied for my first role at Standard Life. This was a great decision for my career and i remain at Standard Life/Phoenix to this day, many years later.
