Kenz is a 2021 graduate from of the MSc Management Programme. After graduating he worked as a Finance Graduate in retail and insurance and is now an FP&A Analyst with the Kenz Partnership. 


THE ORIGINAL (1)638956987081660651


Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background:

I work in FP&A as an Expense Analyst, managing and playing a key role in the OPEX reporting of $5 billion GWP.

How did you hear about your role ?

I found the role through LinkedIn and applied directly.

What do you enjoy most about your current role?

I enjoy the people interaction, ad-hoc analysis, and the dynamic nature of the work.

What has been the most challenging part of your graduate journey?
Finding a job and securing a visa was very challenging. Many companies reject candidates who don’t have an Irish or EU passport without considering their skills. Explaining the visa process to every company was extremely tough.

What did the recruitment process involve and how did you prepare for it ?

I anticipated common interview questions, so I prepared a full script and learned it thoroughly. I made sure to demonstrate everything on my CV and answered every question confidently.

What is a typical day like in your current role ?

My day involves expense reporting, analysis, forecasting, ad-hoc requests for senior managers, meetings with budget holders, preparing for planning cycle forecasting, and influencing decision-making.

Can you describe the visa process you underwent ?

The visa process is extremely difficult. Most companies are unaware of Stamp 1G or Critical Skills visas, and very few are willing to meet the required salary for Critical Skills. Salaries in non-IT or non-tech sectors are very low, so it took me some time to switch jobs and reach the required salary for visa sponsorship.

Top 3 tips for students and graduates entering the Irish job market:

  1. Focus on communication skills Take any job you can in the beginning, even if it doesn’t offer visa sponsorship. Companies value Irish market experience, and you can switch after 4–5 months if a job with visa sponsorship becomes available.
  2. Try not to move out of Dublin initially, as it can make attending interviews much harder.
  3. Keep the linked profile well presentable .