What is your current role?
I joined Philip Morris International (PMI) through the InKompass internship program, then was fortunately offered a position in the 18-month Graduate Program commencing in Finance for the initial 6 months followed by 2 other rotations across the business. The Graduate Program at PMI entails 3 rotations across the organisation.
In my first rotation, I joined the Financial Accounting and Treasury Team where I was responsible for monitoring the inventory and Accounts Receivables (AR) accounts. My day-to-day consists of working closely with teams across Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines to identify and resolve any issues in relation to AR accounts. It also includes process improvements if any gaps were identified by the team.
On a typical day, I spend my morning with the teams in Australia (e.g. Commercial Key Accounts & Supply Chain) to understand any challenges and outstanding tasks in their world. After lunch, due to the time zone difference, I connect with colleagues in Indonesia & The Philippines to continue usual Business As Usual activities.
What's your background?
I grew up in Hong Kong and moved to Melbourne to complete my High School Education. Most of my university degree was done online due to COVID, as such, to maximise my time, I also completed numerous internships in different industries – Legal, Asset Management and Accounting. I had the opportunity to work at EY Hong Kong in the Valuations and Business Modelling team. I developed my technical knowledge and soft skills, which have been utile to transfer into my role at Philip Morris.
Upon graduating, I joined PMI as an Intern and am now a Graduate. I have already gained exposure to monthly and cyclical events in Finance, such as Forecasting. It has been a rewarding learning opportunity thus far.
Could someone with a different background be a Finance Graduate at PMI?
Foundational Accounting and Financial knowledge are essential to be a Finance Graduate, as the role is primarily focused on accounting processes. Though generally for InKompass Interns and Graduates in other parts of PMI, it is equally important to have a strong desire to grow and willingness to learn as there is a significant amount of information to be processed and skillsets to develop. It is critical to not limit yourself to a specific stream for the short term as broadening your skillset and experience at this point of your career would be beneficial in the longer term.
What's the coolest thing about being a Graduate at PMI?
The best part of being a Graduate at PMI is the Global reach and network, I often am surprised at the opportunities to work with various teams across Australia but also abroad with Asia & Europe. I would not have imagined that I’d have the chance to experience this at the Graduate level.
The most important aspect for me is the support and trust across the organisation. Despite being a Graduate, I have the ability to drive my career and develop whilst being supported by all parts of the business, particularly during this exploratory phase of my career.
What’s your advice for students to get the most out of their university experience?