Ready to team up with talented people? FINANCE GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Meeting our next challenges Henri POUPART-LAFARGE, Chief Financial Officer Today, Alstom is ready to face a new challenge to achieve sustained profitable growth. We, in the Alstom Finance Community, have a major role to play in meeting that challenge. Because the Alstom goals are our goals. Consequently, we have to act as real business partners and bring solutions to the operational managers - solutions to generate cash, solutions for cost reduction and solutions for risk management. These are our day-to-day tasks and our contribution to profitable growth. We also have a specific duty as the providers of financial information. All stakeholders inside and outside the Company rely on the Alstom Finance Community to deliver timely and accurate financial information. Financial information is based on the same language throughout the Group using standardised, up-to-the-minute financial information systems. The Alstom Finance Community has a third role, no less important than the others. That is to be the guardians of the business rules and the promoters of clear business and financial processes. In this role, we ensure full compliance with internal and external regulations and boost efficiency across the Company. To fulfil these roles, I strongly believe that we need a strong, cohesive and world-class Finance Community. This implies pro-active management of the Alstom Finance Community with competency assessment, training, personal development and mobility management. It also means attracting and recruiting the very best young graduates from top universities and business schools. And then integrating them into the Group via a solid, in-depth development programme.
Alstom Finance Community at a glance 3,500 men and women spread across the globe 4 % Other 15 % Asia 17 % Americas 64 % Europe Alstom Finance job families The activities of the Alstom Finance Community can be split into different disciplines: 17 % Operation Controlling 2 % Internal Audit and Internal Control 6 % Tax 7 % Treasury 16 % Finance Management Key competencies Apart from integrity, energy and good analytical skills, people performing these tasks must have a solid command of different skills. The first is an in-depth understanding of Alstom s industrial environment, including long-term contract management. They must also be able to: apply accounting, tax, treasury, reporting, and budgeting instructions and regulations; lead internal control; lead financial controlling; use, optimise and organise finance information systems; understand and apply cash management models; understand and apply hedging mechanisms. 5 % Tender Controlling 18 % Project Controlling 29 % Accounting and Reporting Operation Controllers manage the Business cycle (budget, forecasts ), analyse the performance and propose improvement plans.etc. Accounting and Reporting people collect data and organise them to produce all types of financial statements in full compliance with Alstom and accounting principles. Project Controllers manage the financial data and organise the project Reviews. They analyse the execution performance of the Projects and propose action plans to improve this performance and mitigate risks. Finance management is made up of more senior people responsible for managing and co-ordinating different areas of the finance functions. Other domains: these are the specialist domains of treasurers, export finance people, funding managers, tax experts, risk managers, internal controllers and internal auditors. Finance Community management The management of the Alstom Finance Community is the responsibility of the Company s Chief Financial Officer. The basic process of managing the people in the Finance Community, as in the rest of Alstom, is the People Review. That process encompasses such practices as competency assessment, career management, training and development and regular performance evaluations.
Our Finance Graduate A unique way to discover Alstom When you join the Alstom s Finance Community, you are in for an intense learning experience One that will last 24 months, because you will be put through the Finance Graduate Development programme, which combines formal learning with on-the-job experience. Programme objectives To equip the members of Alstom s world-class Finance Community with all the tools, skills and insights to enable the Company to achieve its ambition of growing profitably. To give you the opportunity to discover how Alstom ticks. During the learning cycle, you will get a close-up of the extraordinary, long-term projects that make up our business. You will experience first hand, not one Alstom activity, but both - Power and Transport - so that you observe their differences as well as their similarities. And you will feel the Company s cultural diversity through assignments in different countries. Teambuilding after training session in Beijing, China. Your next two years at Alstom Induction Event Training 1 Training 2 6 months assignments 6 months assignments *Assignments: in the three Sectors (Power Systems, Power Service, Transport), in different countries and different areas of the Finance **Training modules: 1 Introduction to Alstom Finance 2 Project Accounting 3 Internal Control Fundamentals 4 Leadership/management skills development Sector Senior Vice-Presidents Finance commit to provide assignment opportunities during the training period and permanent positions at the end. The assignments for the trainees are real jobs that contribute to the business performance of the Company. Objectives are set, results are demanded, and performance is evaluated. As well, each trainee will benefit from the support of a Mentor, who will coach and advise.
Development Programme Fast track your career Selection criteria extremely rigorous: you must have what it takes to manage a number of interviews with managers from different businesses, different cultures and different management levels. You will start your Programme with an Induction Event held in Paris, france. This will boost your Alstom knowledge and start your graduates community. Within these first 24 months, you will benefit from the four training modules of the Finance Graduate Development Programme provided by Alstom University. Your on-the-job learning takes place in three different assignments in different sectors and countries. This gives you an unrivalled overview of the whole Company and the benefits of cross-fertilisation equal to none. Your programme also opens the door to more mobility: you will already be familiar with various parts of the Company - and they with you. That means more projects, more variety and more career satisfaction. And last but not least, you will be supported by a Mentor and your progress followed closely by Finance Management. You can hardly do better than that. Who are we looking for? Top graduates who have qualified in a Finance-related discipline in first-class universities or business schools. Fluent spoken and written English is a must. Able to work as a team member for the team to achieve its collective results. Good interpersonal and communications skills, good judgement, good planning. To be comfortable with the technicalities of financial management, from accounting to contract management, financial control to hedging mechanisms. After that, it is a question of individual attitude and ambition in terms of operational effectiveness, resilience and accountability. Training 3 Training 4 Further Trainings 12 months assignments Final position
Our stories... Graduates Domenico Internal Controller, Alstom Power Italia Spa. Developing skills in Finance After my Master Degree in Business Administration, I spent several months between Spain and USA, perfecting my Spanish and English to fully prepare myself for an International Career. Discovering Alstom and its Finance Graduate Development Programme was the challenge I d been waiting for and the right opportunity to shape my future! After the Induction Event, I spent my first six month Assignment in Milan, Italy, working as a Project Controller for Power Systems. Together with my Mentor and my Line Manager, we set up a perfect street of development with training sessions, a Project Controllers convention and 2 months on the field in a local Power Plant. I fully understood the key role of Project Controller and the importance of the Alstom values: Trust, Team and Action! Before moving to my second position, I attended the first training course of the Programme, Introduction to Alstom Finance, in Switzerland. It gave me an important overview of the Finance Community s role within Alstom. During my Second Assignment, I was based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, working as an Internal Controller for Transport, and acting as a Business Partner. I assessed the internal control levels of the Unit, analysing the risks, proposing mitigation plans Afterwards I attended the second training course of the programme Project Accounting in Beijing. This is an important training since most of Alstom s business is project oriented. The session strengthened my knowledge of the project accounting rules and gave me the opportunity to share useful experiences with people from the Asia. Now I am based in Jupiter, Florida, USA, and I have just started my Third assignment in Power Service as a Financial Analyst. The Finance Graduate Development Programme is a unique opportunity to develop my technical and social skills whilst workingacross the countries and the Sectors: I feel part of the Alstom Finance Community and I am ready to build my future within it. Moving abroad within several positions When I learned about Alstom and its new Finance Graduate Development Programme through my school, I knew it would be for me a unique opportunity to pursue an international career in its strong Finance community. Finance managers Ling Fang, Vice-President Finance, Asia Pacific Region, Alstom Transport Sector Your career path After my studies in China and in France, I joined Alstom in 1995 as an internal auditor. After a couple of years, I went to Singapore as Financial Controller for the Power Activity and then to Shanghai. In 2003, I was appointed to my current position. Moving from Junior Auditor to Vice-President in ten years is not bad! Your project experience I m very much involved in huge projects right now. Alstom has won very large contracts from the Chinese Ministry of Transport. I work on the project structure and interface between Alstom, the customer and the local technology transfer partner. I m negotiating a tax benefit with the government, cost-controlling the project and following-up delivery schedules. Key characteristics a new recruit should focus on First, they should be patient. They must be prepared to learn as much as possible from each task they are assigned to. Each career needs a solid knowledge base. But then, once they feel they ve learned enough, they shouldn t hesitate to ask for a move. Ian, Finance Director, Power Systems Sector Your career path Currently, I am Finance Director for the Global Boiler Activity within Power Systems, based in Switzerland. It has been a varied career and a real learning opportunity. One that has taken me around the world several times and given me the chance to work in several countries. Your project experience There are many variables to manage. You have to interact with sales, engineers, lawyers, etc., as well as looking at client/supplier financial stability and fiscal treasury issues. Key characteristics a new recruit should focus on Cultural awareness. You can go far in an international career if you re sensitive to cultural diversity.
I started my first assignment in March 2007 in Paris where I joined the Internal Control department of the Transport Sector. I worked with people from various communities and visited many units all around the world to identify potential risks and give appropriate recommendations. This first mission was the perfect way to get an overview of the Transport Sector and become familiar with the Alstom Internal Control approach. For my second 6-month assignment, I moved to the Power Systems Sector in São Paulo, Brazil. I worked closely with the Local Project Controller and Unit Finance Director to control both the onshore scope of a Power Plant project and the Unit operations. In March 2008 I started my one-year assignment as a Project Controller for Power Service in North Ryde, Australia. I find it very interesting to ensure the accurate financial management of different projects, whilst adapting quickly to new multicultural environments. The rotational aspect of the FGDP is really fantastic. It truly helps to discover Alstom, build cultural awareness, know different jobs and be connected to many people worldwide. I also benefit from the various training modules and the support of my Mentor to build my career path. The FGDP definitely enables me to further develop my interpersonal and professional skills in a work environment, which is both challenging and rewarding. I feel very lucky to belong to it! Elodie Assistant Project Controller, Alstom Power System, Brazil Ferdinand, Vice-Presidant, Power Service Sector Your career path Being with Alstom, I always enjoyed and appreciated the big variety of challenging job opportunities in a very international environment. Working in Finance offers you the great possibility to easily move between interesting positions in various countries and sectors. Your project experience During my Transport time, I was involved in the project controlling of many different large contracts. Due to the large number of projects covering various products, customers and countries, there was quite a big variety of challenges starting from the tender phase up to project execution and warranty phase. HOW TO APPLY? To the Finance Graduate Development Programme Seize a unique opportunity to join an international organisation and participate in extraordinary projects! If you are a recent graduate in finance from a top university or business school and eager to move into the fast lane professionally; are attracted by professional mobility and mixing with different cultures; are looking for a position in a Company whose success is based on innovation and advanced, environmentallyfriendly technologies; want to feel the satisfaction of contributing to major projects that make a difference to people s lives Then a finance position in Alstom is the place for you. Apply for the Finance Development Graduate Programme at: www.careers.alstom.com Key characteristics a new recruit should focus on Be curious to discover the Alstom world and enjoy working together with people from different countries and nationalities, with different background, speaking different languages and working in different time-zones around the globe.
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