George Black
BAcc Accountancy with Finance
University of Glasgow
Citigroup, Hong Kong
The Saltire Foundation originally came to my attention through the Robertson Trust as I knew of another Robertson Scholar who had taken part in the Saltire Foundation the previous year and I was eager to apply after hearing about his incredible experiences.
The Citigroup position, being finance-based, seemed like a natural choice for me and the opportunity to live and work in Hong Kong for eight weeks was definitely a welcomed bonus. My role was within the Expense Management Analytics team, which is responsible for analysing expenses for Citigroup throughout the Asia-Pacific region. I was fortunate enough to be working in a small team of five and everyone within the team was extremely knowledgeable and friendly so I was never afraid to ask if I was unsure and I also managed to pick up some general career advice. I had the opportunity to absorb a lot of new skills, while also gaining a taste of working within a business environment. After the first week of settling in and getting to grips with the general workings of the team, my Global Scot, Stuart Roseman, set me a project to complete. The completed project was around 200 pages and I also had to present my findings to the team.
The opportunity to live and work in Hong Kong for eight weeks was hugely beneficial. It's a fascinating city and there is always something going on. I am definitely missing the cheap and tasty food amongst other things! HK is also extremely easy to get around, most signs are in English and most of the locals also speak English. I also had the chance to experience a weekend in Tokyo during my stay where I met up with other Saltire interns - that was a different story altogether!
Since my return, I have been fortunate to secure a role as a trainee auditor, studying towards my C.A, with an Accountancy firm in Glasgow. When applying for jobs I definitely felt that the internship and the international experience was appreciated by employers and I felt more confident in myself that I had that extra edge.
I would definitely recommend anyone considering applying not to hesitate and go for it. Not only have I grown personally and professionally, I have had the chance to experience a new culture and I met many people on the way who I plan to keep in touch with. I also have some invaluable experience on my C.V. and a taste of what to expect when I graduate.
