London Treasurers finance scheme

Im not applying this year, but I will apply for it next year, so keep us posted on how you get on please

I have applied and just waiting to hear..

I completed my online test yesterday and just waiting for result

Was the online test with SHL or PSL?

Hey guys, I'm doing my online test today, shall keep u posted! Does anybody know how well the CIFPA qualification is regarded?

Hey guys it is an SHL numeracy test. To be honest its pretty standard, much like the first one on here, although i was not on my game so :-( will keep u posted though!

Hey guys it is an SHL numeracy test. To be honest its pretty standard, much like the first one on here, although i was not on my game so :-( will keep u posted though!

I have to do mine by today as well :s fingers crossed. good luck with the result!

does anyone know the pass mark for the test?

I recently completed one for audit commission and think that SHL's test is quite different from their practice one! the practice test is much easier

Hey guys, telephone interview on Tuesday - bit earlier than I wanted! Hows everyone getting on? Any hints for the teleI? I am a bit concerned as my actual knowledge of london and the boroughs is quite poor, do you think this is going to be vital?

Hi Bongylong, so you only took your tests the other day and have already heard? :( i did mine last sunday and still no response I emailed them on thurs and they said furtehr to my email they were looking at my results and would be in touch. I hadn't been worried as have taken many online tests and never had a prob but now i am......

Umm yeah, I did the tests late in the week and got a text by Friday evening, and an invite to telephone interview. If you've done online tests before I would have thought you would have completed these ones as they were not too difficult! It is a little bit strange not to have heard from them yet though.....I would give them a call if you still haven't heard by tomorrow as that is ten days-ish

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I have been invited to the assessment centre, has anybody else heard back from them?

no. when did u have ur telephone interview?

hi i just been invited to an assessment centre aswell, but no available slots on the website!

HI, i just got invited to the assessment centre, next Thursday (19th). It says we've got to prepare a presentation and they're posting us the topic... so i guess we'll get them and have a week to prep the presentation... Anybody else going on that day?

i'm going to attend the afternoon session of 19th.

I'm through to the AC too although I'v only been given a day I can't attend, anybody else had this problem? Did u call them or just wait for other days to come up? Any info on the presentation topics would be interesting too.... thanks in advance!

Hi all, got my assessment centre tomorrow afternoon. Just wanted to get some opinions regarding the presentation or any presentation at an a/c for that matter... For a ten minute presentation, how many points should be talked about? (taking into account the time and level of detail to go into each point)

thanks

Check the wikijob article - presentation.

For a ten minute presentation, stick to three main points. Keep things simple, straight-forward and easy to understand.

Your content doesn't have to be spell-binding, and no-one will really be paying that much attention to this anyway - what is most important is "how" you present.

You must be confident, speak well and be outgoing - it is important to practice giving the presentation before the event (now!) - you'll be fine.

ive been told that by quite a few people, that it's really the delivery that is important. guess i better get practicing!

thanks

hey solat, how was ur ac?

ahh i think as is usual with me, i feel i performed well in some exercises and not so well in others. the group exercise, presentation and interview went pretty well. dont think i did too well in written exercise though. theres 30 minutes to read through documents and then write a report, i spent too much time reading through it rather than writing! just have to wait and see now. hows your prep going? feeling confident?

nope. preparation isn't going on well. was the interview competency based only? did they ask questions after the prst?

Hey Solat, to be honest if you felt 3 out of 4 went well then that is a pretty cool situation to be in! I was just wondering whether you felt that the presentation delivery was more important than its content or vice versa? Im a bit concerned about the presentation as I cant really find any sources! Was the written exercise difficult, or did it just require some creative thinking? And was it on a local government problem? thanks in advance for any tips!

Apologies for the late response, i dont suppose anything I say now will have any relevance as you already had the ac earlier today? how did it go?

Aah actually I'v got my AC on thursday 26th so any information would be really useful. Do you find out on the day whether you have been succesful or not? Obviously that would affect what help anyone would be willing to share!

has anyone heard their results from assessment centre yet?

Nope but they said end of this week if not then early next week.

oh ok let us know when u get ur result, good luck btw

Anyone heard back from them yet after the assessment centre? It's been about two weeks for me now..

No it's killing me. No one heard???

I know the feeling! I'll give it to the end of the day, then probably ring up tomorrow

ok let me know how it goes! Only been just over a week since my assessment day so don't quite feel i have the right to call...

i rang up yesterday and the guy said it might take another week or two before i hear?? i was like whatt??? lol i had mine two weeks ago too

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ok peoples, i heard this eve that I have interviews at Hackney and Lambeth. Not wanting to alarm anyone that doesn't know yet but feel like i should let you know.

when is ur interview? was hackney ur first choice?

did they call/email u?

interviews are between 16th and 27th March, first choice is Lambeth if you are from London treasurers, hope this doesn't breach trust!

interviews are between 16th and 27th March, first choice is Lambeth if you are from London treasurers, hope this doesn't breach trust!

Nice one! When did you have your assessment centre?

has anyone else heard bck?

not yet! i got a bad feelin about this though if i've not heard back yet! i keep meanin to give them a call but keep putting it off!

Hey guys thought I should let u know too, I'v got a final interview although not at my preferential boroughs :-( but still pretty lege. Good luck to all of you who havent heard, anybody any ideas on the what sort of questions we will be expected to field during the formal interview?

Hello all!

I have got my two interview dates - both next week at havering and hackney.

I've been in touch with havering and they say its not going to be competency based. I think they will be looking for drive, ambition, enthusiasm...just someone who really wants to do well wehn it comes to public finance accountancy.

any other ideas?!

Also, I had an e mail that said they expect answers back from us by 1st April at THE LATEST...anyone get this e mail?

Good luck to you all!

Has anyone been offered a place and Barking and Dagenham?

Hello everyone.

I have a telephone interview with them on Tuesday, can anyone give me any advice on what questions they will ask?

Thanks.

Only just saw this thread...hey tazzybalboa good luck with your interview today, i have mine tomorrow any advice from you would be grateful...make sure your answers have specific examples im sure u've prepared all you can...id be very interested to know how it goes..do u have any other interviews lined up ?

Hey thanks, it went pretty well.

They asked the following (excuse the order for the last three questions; as I can't remember the exact order the last three were asked):

• Give an example of when you had to plan something extensively.

• Give an example when you had to solve a problem/overcome a huge goal.

• What do you know about CIPFA/Why do you want to study the CIPFA?

• Why are interested in this role?

• What finance issues or problems or challenges do you think you will face in this role?

• Why would you be suited to this role?

The interviewer said she would have asked me examples about teamwork and leadership, but as my answers/examples for the first two questions contained both these qualities she didn't have to, so just in case prepare additional answers for those two questions as well.

I got final stage interviews with PWC next week and The Co-operative next month, but I really want this job. Even though it pays less than those other two I think I will enjoy it more.

Good luck and if you have any additional questions let me know.

hey guys how long did it take for you to hear back after the numerical tests?

I got mine 3 working days later. Do note I did do my application very early and got sent the tests before the deadline for applications. Chances are load of people left their applications late, so they will take time shifting through the results for the best candidates.

i got mine on the same day actually, but what tazzybalboa says is very wise so dont worry about it...cheers for the help there thats very informative of you..just wondering if they asked anything about which boroughs you prefer or anything to do with culture? if u can remember,, otherwise i guess its just that...thank you so much ill keep you both posted tomorrow afterwards.

Nothing about the Boroughs, though it wouldn't hurt mentioning specific finance issues with regards to certain Boroughs.

I think that will be next stage (AC) and final stage (Borough interviews) when you need to decide.

Hi TazzyBalboa,

Ive yet to hear whether im through after the initial application stage, how long did it take for you to get a response?? all the best for your interview.....

Well I sent my application close to when applications opened (I believe this was 15th of December 2009). Got invited to the tests on 8th of January 2010, did the tests on the 8th and got an e-mail for phone interview on the 12th. Be patient, they probably have loads of applications to go through, that's why it's always best to apply early as possible.

So it took them 3 weeks to contact me even though I sent my application early! Do remember there is plenty of time before Assessment Centres so don't worry. I think the dates for AC's are 16th, 17th, 18th, 20th, 24th and 25th of February. So they should get back to you in the next two weeks if you applied late.

If you're still worried give them a call or e-mail.

Thanks for that, really helpful.

Yeah I had my telephone interview yesterday, pretty similar questions were asked to what was said above really:

Planning something extensively, overcoming a problem, what research I had done into CIPFA/why I wanted to study for it, financial issues facing local governments, why I wanted to work in public finance.

Think that pretty much covered it. Not a big fan of telephone interviews, I was rejected after my HSBC telephone interview, but I think this went fairly well.

I was wondering if someone could help me. Basically I did my online tests a week and half ago and havent yet heard back from them. I did email them to follow up but they havent replied back to my email. is it fair for me to assume that I have been unsuccessful? usually if it this long that means i havent been successful right?

Dont fret too much about it TZ. I did hear about from them pretty soon after taking the tests however I guess with the deadline looming they probably had a massive influx of applicants and I took my tests a number of days before the 15th. Give them a call if you're worrying. Though it must be said that quite often companies actually respond faster to those that they are rejecting! My friends have had experiences of failing numerical/verbal tests and being rejected within an hour or two. My only advice is to wait it out or if you really cannot wait then give them a call as they seem pretty good with feedback over the phone, if you email then you'll probably have to wait even longer!

thanks for that rugby01. yea think will give them a call tomorrow. i did my on-line tests just before the deadline, a day or so.

Hi I have my telephone interview today, I was wondering if anyone else was asked any different questions? Did they tell you when you are likely to hear from them? Anyone heard back from their phone interviews? Thanks in advance!

TZ, I think by keeping you waiting they are trying to round up a group for the assesment centre. For those who don't fair well at the interview stage it will be easy to deem them as unsuccessful. But for those people get through interview stage they may need say a group of 30.

hey sukach, thanks for you insight. i gave them a call today and they said they are still reviewing my application and they couldnt tell me when they will get back to me. however, i haven't yet had a tele interview. which i thought would have been done ages ago.

Hey Everybody,

I just had my online test today, and got invited for a telephone interview. It's booked for the 1st of Feb. Just wondering what kind of questions they will be asking, and some advice on how to get to the next stage. I'll give you all some feedback on how it went. I want this job so badly!

Thanks

hey BYR congratulations on getting the telephone interview!

i think i am just gonna give up on this scheme, cause haven't heard back yet about a telephone interview and i did my tests almost two weeks ago!

its so frustrating that HR never give a straightforward answer!! i would rather they just reject me instead of just keep saying we are reviewing!

I had my telephone interview today it didn't go extremely well even thought i had prepared for what they were going to ask me, I mucked up the competency based questions I think! I'm not gonna hold my breath on this one, even though I really wanted the job! They said it will be two/three weeks till they will let me know, but the assessment centres start then so I am thinking she probs told me that cos I didnt get in! :-( Has anyone heard back from their phone interview?

last year i applied for this programme and wasnt successful. i had to wait until the 5th of Feb until i got my rejection email. i waited over two weeks.

In terms of the telephone interview the woman told me that the AC's were on the 21st, 22nd etc etc. February and asked if I would provisionally be available for those dates. I was then told that I would hear back from them within 2 weeks. It's been about 4 working days now so I'm still fine with waiting.

If anyone wants to know what sort of questions were asked then just scroll up the page! Dont think that they will deviate from it much. Good luck people!

Has anyone heard back from them yet?

Accessment Centres are meant to be soon (16th, 17th, 18th, 23rd and 24th of February). Might give them a call tomorrow morning if I don't get a reply soon.

Tazzy - I still havent heard back from them, but then it hasnt been two weeks yet. I think if I dont hear back from them by the 2 week mark (which will be on Thursday/Friday) then I'll probably give them a call. From usual experience if they say "within two weeks" I'll generally expect to hear back after around a week max. but maybe this will just take as long as they say I guess!

Hi guys,

Im not here to burst anyones bubble but I spoke with someone while I was booking my phone interview and I the guy stated the last day they are having any phone interviews is this coming friday..... I just want to thank the people who have detailed their own phone interviews above...much appreciated

Hi everyone,

Just spoke to a woman from HR she just said to keep waiting !

is there anyone who has heard if they are through to the assessment centre or not?

I have my phone interview tomorrow and when I booked it the last date was Friday so they will probably let us know next week who is through to an AC they most likely won't put anyone through to an AC right now as they might get more suited candidates towards the end.

Not to be negative but if you haven't heard about a telephone interview by now I don't think you will have one.

i have mine tomorrow! :)

I think a fair chunk of candidates will go through to the assessment centres. They are looking for over twenty candidates to fill roles. They have a large amount of assessment centres so I would say if you get through to the phone interview and don't completely mess it up you have a good chance.

Hi guys,

just got of my phone interview right now, it lasted around 18 mins. They are extremely friendly and its more a conversation that an interview. The competencies and questions listed above are exactly what i was asked although i think i chocked a bit on what you would bring to this role. she also said that , i would hear within the next week if i had been successful for an AC.

Good Luck to you all!!!!

Still haven't heard from them! I'm glad I dont appear to be the only one though. Perhaps they're now in the process of deciding who goes through to the assessment centres after finishing the telephone interviews, so hopefully they'll be done by Tuesday. I think I'll give them a ring Wednesday morning if I haven't heard anyway!

I was told I would hear this week and my interview was on Thursday. I would say for certain we will hear by Wednesday since the first AC is on the 16th. I wouldn't be worrying though seeing as the telephone interviews only ended on Friday.

I think they will get back to us by Wednesday, as that gives everyone at least a week to prepare for the first AC (16th of Feb). Hope everyone here makes it to the next stage!

Check your mail!!!!

I just got an email telling me i'm through and need to book an AC.

Good Luck

Check your mail!!!!

I just got an email telling me i'm through and need to book an AC.

Good Luck

Was anyone else told that the AC would only be a half day event?

I think this is quite good considering there is another two interviews should you pass the AC.

I just got an email too. So pleased now need to figure out when I can go.

Yes, the AC is half day. 8.45am to 1pm OR 12.15pm to 4.30pm

I'm only getting 2 dates showing, the 16th and 17th.

Same, 16th and 17th, so glad I got through!

Any ideas about the presentation we have to do?

Yeh same with me, I'm going to wait a few hours. I need to travel to London so I would prefer later dates as I have to book the day off work.

a group exercise written exercise numerical reasoning test pre-prepared presentation an interview.

Wow that is a heck of alot for a half day. Going to be tough.

Ha, funny how less than an hour later I had heard back from them!

At the moment only 16th and 17th are showing, and both mornings. May wait as they're both fairly busy days. I'm assuming if I wait then more places will be added?

Also, hellohello - two more interviews? I thought that at the AC your borough preference would be discussed and if you were successful then you would have a meeting at the borough. Also it seems just because it is half a day it is no less challenging! Seems like a lot of stuff is packed in.

Yeh I'm waiting for more dates to be added. My work is a nightmare with holidays so doubt I could get them put through that fast.

At the AC you state your two preferred boroughs and should you pass the AC you will need to have an interview with both of them. It says that on the website.

At least we get the presentation beforehand that is a slight relief. The AC's I have had in the past I was given the presentation topic on the day with an hour to do.

what are the best boroughs to work for in London?

Hm it is now stating there are no available dates on my account.

Did anyone book their interview? If so when?

18th February am. you?

I have mine on the 17th but I still have no idea about the presentation, do we prepare it on the day or do we do it before hand? Might give them a call.

Just called them, they said they will contact us with information about the presentation closer to the day. We will have to prepare it before!

Any idea when they will contact us?

I would really like to prepare it over the weekend as I work every other day. Oh well hope it isn't too hard.

Are you wanting to work at a specific borough?

Any idea when they will contact us?

I would really like to prepare it over the weekend as I work every other day. Oh well hope it isn't too hard.

Are you wanting to work at a specific borough?

Any idea when they will contact us?

I would really like to prepare it over the weekend as I work every other day. Oh well hope it isn't too hard.

Are you wanting to work at a specific borough?

She didn't say, I think they would have to contact us before the weekend, as afterwards it would be far too late for those that have an AC on Tuesday!

Yeh that's true.

I've tried to contact a few people who were at an AC last year but no response so far, would be good to hear some details. I can't possibly think what they have left to ask in the interview.

d

how come we cant see the posts?

To those of you who've already had the AC, how did you find it? Were the exercises/interviews hard?

Anyone have any tips on where to research for the presentation?

The AC is rather challenging and fast paced.

I don't think you will get any details of where to research the presentation as competition is high for the jobs and I don't think anyone deserves an advantage.

I would normally help if I was out of the running for a job.

Hi

That's a fair point hellohello but you are not being measured against the other candidates but against certain predetermined criteria. It is quite possible that every candidate will achieve the necessary standard, in which case offers will be made to most, if not all.

If there is anything you can give away about the AC that would really be appreciated.

Otherwise hope your AC went well!

Cheers

One more point, is a calculator allowed to be used for numerical reasoning test at the AC?

Thanks

Hey well what I do know is that 120 people are attending the AC's and there are at the most 40 jobs so if everyone passes 80 people are still losing out.

Just make sure you do your presentation and if you passed the phone interview you should be able to do the interview. As for the other exercises there is nothing you can prepare but the written one was pretty hard and I think mos people found that too.

Good luck.

Hey well what I do know is that 120 people are attending the AC's and there are at the most 40 jobs so if everyone passes 80 people are still losing out.

Just make sure you do your presentation and if you passed the phone interview you should be able to do the interview. As for the other exercises there is nothing you can prepare but the written one was pretty hard and I think mos people found that too.

Good luck.

Sorry if I came across rude I just really want this job.

Hey well what I do know is that 120 people are attending the AC's and there are at the most 40 jobs so if everyone passes 80 people are still losing out.

Just make sure you do your presentation and if you passed the phone interview you should be able to do the interview. As for the other exercises there is nothing you can prepare but the written one was pretty hard and I think mos people found that too.

Good luck.

Sorry if I came across rude I just really want this job.

Hey well what I do know is that 120 people are attending the AC's and there are at the most 40 jobs so if everyone passes 80 people are still losing out.

Just make sure you do your presentation and if you passed the phone interview you should be able to do the interview. As for the other exercises there is nothing you can prepare but the written one was pretty hard and I think mos people found that too.

Good luck.

Sorry if I came across rude I just really want this job.

RS3 you will have to use one of the calculators they provide (which is a basic Casio one).

As for help in the AC, there really isn't much we can tell you to help.

Sure I could tell you the exact information they provided us for both the written and group tests but that is highly unfair on myself and others that have already done the AC. It would also put you in a better position to get the job if I was to. I'm sorry if this comes across as harsh but I will not do that as I really want this role and have turned down other job offers on the slim chance I will get this one.

The actual interview will be fine if you passed the telephone interview. As for the presentation just Google issues you think that effect local Government and see what comes up.

Had my AC last week.

I think it went alright. The half day consists of a group exercise, written report, individual presentation and then a numerical test.

It was alright actually, if a little draining as it was spaced over just half a day so there wasnt much of a break in between. For the numerical test you will be given a calculator however it will be one that is provided and isnt scientific, which is a bit annoying.

Dont really want to say too much really. If you have got to this stage then I'm sure you're competent enough to be able to handle it. Group exercises and written report are both fairly simply, numerical is difficult as its very time pressured and the presentation just depends on how prepared you are.

Best of luck anyway to people doing it.

Thank you for that feedback guys.

I wasn't really asking for the exact questions as I've been thru such exercises myself before. It would be highly unfair to reveal that information.

My only real worry was the numerical test. I believed I had failed the online test and was surprised to get thru to the telephone interview. So any advice about the paper version? Is the same, harder, easier? Anyone remember which model calculator was given? That's the only info that would put my mind at ease.

The other stuff you can't really prepare all that much for (apart from the advanced presentation) so will take these parts as they come! As a few of you said, if you can pass the telephone interview then the face-to-face should be fine. After all, it is also competency-based.

Cheers for all the feedback, much appreciated.

It is paper based and is about the same level. Only problem was using their basic calculators as you couldn't save values for questions that require long working out.

I think the final AC has taken place so we will hopefully find out soon.

Got interviews at two of my preferential boroughs. Ecstatic! Good luck people.

Oh and I had my interview around two weeks ago now.

Well done Rugby01!

Which boroughs? Did they contact you by e-mail?

When did you find out?

Has anyone else heard.

I'm nervous now I will be devastated if I don't get good news.

Cheers Tazzy! Though I read an article about whether employers check wikijob the other day, subsequently I'm a bit wary of placing any information that may make me easily identified! Sorry about that.

Though I will say that the London Treasurers' Scheme contacted me by e-mail around lunch time today just telling me that I had interviews at these two boroughs and the dates they were on. They also said that the boroughs would be in contact with me "shortly" to give me more details.

These "borough matching" interviews are pretty soon, my first one is in less than two weeks(!), so I imagine everyone will be hearing from them very soon.

Okay no problem. Hope it goes well anyway!

Hi - I fortunately have been invited to the final 'matching interview' stage with two boroughs. I was wondering if anyone has been through this process, or has an inkling of the type of questions that may appear, would be helpful if you can share this information. Good Luck to everyone - I was informed too, yesterday via email.

Cheers

Shouldn't you be able to stand on your own two feet at this stage?

hellohello - A tad harsh. One of the main reasons this page has functioned is because people have been helping others out, no need to shoot someone down like that.

As it is the final stage I believe that someone should be able to go into the interview knowing everything they need to with no pointers. Fair is fair and if you don't like my opinion then that's fine.

Hey rugby01 - many congrats on getting to the final stage of this scheme. It has been a tough journey. Thanks for the encouragement and Good Luck with the final round, and any other jobs you have applied to for that matter.

Hi hellohello and Tazzy

Did you guys get through the AC ok?

Hope things have gone to plan.

Cheers

RS3

Anyone else still waiting for the dates/times of their matching interviews or is it just me?