Alexandra Mallides: Tesco

MEng (Hons) General Engineering. University of Durham. Graduated in 2008.
Finance Executive, Tesco

‘Driving the business forward is something I find exciting.’

Why did you choose to join Tesco?
I always wanted to work within the retail sector. Where better to start your career than the UK’s biggest retailer?

The Tesco finance graduate scheme gives you a wide range of experience, the opportunity to travel and the chance to work with great people.

Tesco pay for our qualification from start to finish and we get time off to complete our study and sit our exams. I also found that the buddy and mentoring programme has given me a great amount of guidance and support. Our former and current finance directors are both CIMA qualified, so appreciate the benefits that CIMA brings to the table.

What’s your journey been like so far?
It’s been a great opportunity to work in some really varied roles. My placement at Tesco Bank in Edinburgh was particularly exciting as I got the opportunity to be at the forefront of implementing a strategy to improve the customer experience in-store.

I am currently based within the control and compliance team at our service centre in Bangalore, India. This placement is very different to my previous operations-based roles. It’s very exciting to have the opportunity to work in India and sit my May exams in Bangalore.

What attracted you to accountancy and to CIMA in particular?
I wanted to be able to use the skills I’ve gained through my years of studying engineering and have the opportunity to be at the core of decision making.

When I was looking for a graduate job it was important to me that CIMA was the qualification that was being offered.  I believe it will give me the tools I need to be successful in my current role and as I progress in my career. As a management accountant I implement CIMA techniques every day in the work that I do.

What’s next for you?
Once we complete the graduate scheme we will be given roles which carry a lot more responsibility. That’s what I’m really looking forward to. CIMA is widely respected as a great business qualification and is internationally recognised. I know that whatever I end up doing in the future having CIMA on my CV will help me go forward.