BA7777 PG Placement:
Guidance for PG Placement Reflective Essay
A Reflective Essay, as the name suggested is simply a reflection or critical examination of
the placement job experiences. here are no definite contents to be included in the essay.
However, the following list may offer you some ideas what could be included in the reflective
essay. The list only serves as a guidance, and students are not expected to cover all of
them.
1. A brief introduction of the placement employer: e.g. its history, size, the
service/goods that it provides, organisation structure.
2. An overview of the student’s placement position and roles.
3. Some detailed explanation of the work that was carried out during the placement.
4. Reflection from the placement job, which might include
a. What did the student learn from their placement jobs?
b. What skills have been gained from the placement job(s) and whether
additional education/qualification/learning/training are necessary to
strengthen your skill set?
c. What are the strengths and weakness of the student in the workplace?
d. What are/ were the major obstacles during the work? and how you managed
to resolved them?
e. How will the PG Placement working experience benefit the student’s future
career?
f. Whether this working experience has strengthened or altered your future
career plan and objectives? And why?
g. Whether and how this working experience improved your business
knowledge, marketing skills, inter-personal skill, leadership skills, financial
awareness, entrepreneurship, etc?
h. If a student worked placement in a small business, whether this experience
promotes your ambitions to start your own adventure? If so, how?
i. What is the social responsibility perspective of the placement job(s) and of the
student’s future career?
j. How were the job roles related to the PG academic courses that they have
learnt during their previous study?
k. Was there any specific theory/concept/ framework which was studied during
the PG course that the student saw implemented or live-in-action into some
aspects of their role/job/organisation?
l. Reflecting on the placements job(s)/role(s) done, what are the strengths and
weakness of the PG academic courses that they have learnt during their
previous study?
m. Reflecting on the placements job(s)/role(s) done, what are the areas that
could be improved on the PG academic courses that they have learnt during
their previous study? And why?
n. Reflecting on the placement’s job(s)/role(s) done, what additional
subjects/topics/knowledge could be brought into the program to strengthen
the PG academic courses that they have learnt during their previous study?
And why?
The essay is expected to be mostly REFLECTIVE and not DESCRIPTIVE.
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Job Title: Trainee Accounts Helpant (March 2022 – January 15)
Company Name: KBM Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors
• Setting up sales and purchase ledgers using Sage 50, QuickBooks and Xero
• Processing sale and purchase invoices using Sage 50, QuickBooks and Xero
• Processing supplier’s payments and customer’s receipts
• Managing accounts payables and receivables
• Performing bank reconciliation and petty cash reconciliation
• Preparing, reconciling and submitting VAT returns to HMRC
• Processing payroll and generating pay slips
• Generating forms P45, P60 and submitting FPS and EPS reports to HMRC
• Monthly journals, accruals, prepayments, depreciation and other control accounts
• Preparing final trial balance and monthly management accounts
Skills and Expertise:
Sale and Purchase Ledgers
Bookkeeping
Bank Reconciliations
Payroll
VAT Returns Software knowledge:
Sage Accounts Certified
QuickBooks Certified
Xero Certified
Microsoft Excel
Sage Payroll
—>
Introduction:
I had the opportunity to complete my PG placement at KBM Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors, a well-established accounting firm in the city. The company provides a wide range of accounting and audit services to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as individuals. The organization structure is flat and the firm has a team of experienced and dedicated accountants who work closely together to deliver high-quality services to clients.
Overview of Placement Position and Roles:
During my placement, I worked as a Trainee Accounts Helpant, and my roles included setting up sales and purchase ledgers using Sage 50, QuickBooks and Xero, processing sale and purchase invoices, managing accounts payables and receivables, performing bank reconciliation and petty cash reconciliation, preparing, reconciling and submitting VAT returns to HMRC, processing payroll and generating pay slips, generating forms P45, P60 and submitting FPS and EPS reports to HMRC, monthly journals, accruals, prepayments, depreciation, and other control accounts, preparing final trial balance and monthly management accounts.
Work That Was Carried Out:
During my placement, I was able to work on a variety of tasks that helped me to gain a broad understanding of accounting and bookkeeping practices. I was responsible for setting up and maintaining sales and purchase ledgers using different accounting software, Sage 50, QuickBooks, and Xero. I also had the opportunity to process sale and purchase invoices, manage accounts payables and receivables, perform bank reconciliation, and petty cash reconciliation. I was also responsible for preparing and submitting VAT returns to HMRC and processing payroll and generating pay slips. Additionally, I was responsible for generating forms P45, P60 and submitting FPS and EPS reports to HMRC, monthly journals, accruals, prepayments, depreciation, and other control accounts, preparing final trial balance and monthly management accounts.
Reflection:
The placement experience at KBM Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors was a valuable learning experience for me. Through this placement, I was able to gain hands-on experience in accounting and bookkeeping practices. I learned how to use different accounting software, Sage 50, QuickBooks, and Xero, and how to process sale and purchase invoices, manage accounts payables and receivables, perform bank reconciliation, and petty cash reconciliation. I also learned how to prepare and submit VAT returns to HMRC and process payroll and generate pay slips. Additionally, I was able to learn about generating forms P45, P60 and submitting FPS and EPS reports to HMRC, monthly journals, accruals, prepayments, depreciation, and other control accounts, preparing final trial balance and monthly management accounts.
One of the key skills I gained from this placement is the ability to work with different accounting software. I am now Sage Accounts Certified, QuickBooks Certified, and Xero Certified, and I am confident that these skills will be valuable in my future career. Additionally, I learned how to manage accounts payables and receivables, perform bank reconciliation, and petty cash reconciliation, which will be useful in my future job as an accountant.
Another important aspect of this placement was the opportunity to work with a team of experienced accountants. I was able to learn from their experience and expertise, which helped me to develop my own skills and knowledge. I also learned how to work effectively in a team, which is an important skill for any accountant.
In terms of weaknesses, I found it challenging to keep up with the fast-paced and demanding nature of the job at times. I struggled to manage my workload effectively, which resulted in me working longer hours than expected. However,
