Hi everyone,

Third week is done, well almost, and this has been far the busiest and quickest week so far.

It was the end of period 2 of the first quarterly period (Q1P2) which means the finance department is flat out. For my group who support the entire Americas sales team as well as Canada and Brazil, it meant that all the figures for the period and the quarter to date had to be gathered, analyzed and reported. I was given various reports to do, but in particular a metrics report for the America’s sales to show figures such as booking, billing, % margins etc, compared to previous periods. The report helps to highlight such factors like: strong customers and markets for example. Additionally it is a basis to build accurate forecasts and realistic targets.

As well building reports for the period close, my manager as also asked me helped to make a presentation on NSC's main competitors which he will be presenting after the 1st quarter close. Making the presentation has helped me to build a bigger picture of the analogue and chip market as well as the opportunity to study their financial reporting’s compared NSC's. With more knowledge on the industry it will hopefully improve my potential to be more effective at NSC during my internship. No doubt it will help improve my skills in creating a presentation also.

As mentioned in my other blogs my manager has drilled in the importance of knowing as much about the company as much possible. Therefore with the help of my mentor I have arranged meeting with financial staff in different support groups, like product lines for example, which will hopefully increase my knowledge of the company, the finance profession in general and open doors to other parts of the company.

Tomorrow the finance department is holding its first ever Finance Fun Fridays- a teaming building exercise to help bring the finance department closer. The event will take place once a month with a new game each time. Tomorrow groups will compete in 'minute to win it' with a hot dog eating contest the following month. I have been put on the committee for the time am here which has been a good opportunity to see how important team building is to such a huge organisation- either that or they just want a chance to skive. Figures crossed all goes well.

Hope your all well and enjoying your time where ever you are.

Murray.