One of the biggest advantages has also proved to be one of my greatest challenges – namely the many opportunities. At times it can be hard to see which direction I need to take next, and so it is difficult to see exactly where I am heading in terms of my career planning. Luckily, I have a good manager whom I can use as a sounding board when it comes to considerations of this sort. One of the advantages of being employed in a company as large as the Danske Bank Group is the fact that there really are staff development resources.
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Maiken Moltke Olesen, 29 years |
Qualification: BSc business, language and culture, MSc management accounting
Job title: Analyst
Location: Group Finance
Experience: Employed since September 2005. |
From generalist to specialist
I started as a graduate trainee in Group Finance in 2005 and completed my training programme on January 1, 2007. There is a huge difference between what I did as a trainee and what I do now as a permanent staff member. During the 16 months of my traineeship I was seconded to nine different departments, which meant that I came into contact with an enormous range of different assignments and colleagues. As a permanent staff member I now have many more specific tasks on which to concentrate – something I was ready for. So the move from trainee to permanent staff was not really that difficult.
Four months in Norway
During my traineeship I also spent four months with Fokus Bank in Norway, where I discovered what it was like to serve in a business area, and where I had to work closely with the Group. My time as a trainee provided me with a great insight into who does what, and I acquired a huge network both in Group Finance and in other parts of the Group.
Behind the figures
My present job involves controlling Danske Bank’s branches and also, partly, Sampo Bank in Finland. Controlling consists of performance follow-up in the form of analyses of earnings and costs. Based on my research, I prepare a monthly brand report which I subsequently present to the management of Danske Bank’s branded divisions.
Controlling also includes preparing budgets and estimates for each brand. I spend around 90% of my time working with Excel and PowerPoint.
Group budgets
Together with a colleague I coordinate and prepare the Group’s budgets and estimates. We consolidate all the business areas, update the Group’s budget model, look at new budget models, produce reports and provide information used by managers to take decisions. This year we have also been looking at a new budget model for the Group.
Bonus model
I have also been working on the structure of the Group’s bonus model. My primary focus has been to evaluate each individual business area’s performance and associated bonus earnings.
Good combination of assignments
My assignments span a wide area. They range from group coordinating tasks, which provide me with a broad interface and considerable insight, to more brand specific assignments such as controlling of Danske Bank and Sampo Bank, which has taught me a lot about the businesses. In my book, that’s a really good combination.