Mark Pybis
Mark Pybis
Group Analyst
How and when did you join Serco?
I joined Serco in July 2003 through the Serco Mergers & Acquisitions intern programme.
What was your first role? How did your career at Serco progress from there?
I secured a one year placement in the Serco Mergers & Acquisitions team as part of my undergraduate degree. In this role I was responsible for the analysis of competitors and target companies, business valuation and the preparation of company and industry reports. My placement also included a six month secondment to the Strategy Development Team, where I provided in-depth analysis of the Serco portfolio of contracts to assist with the development of the long-term objectives of the Group. After successfully completing the internship, I was offered the opportunity to return to Serco in a permanent capacity by the Director of Mergers & Acquisitions and the Director of Corporate Finance. I joined the Group Finance team, where I have been studying for the CIMA professional qualification. I have progressed to the final set of exams and hope to qualify following the May 2008 sitting.
How many different positions/divisions have you worked in during your career with Serco? Please describe them. What is the scale/scope of your current role?
I have held two positions in the two years since returning to Serco after University. Both have been within Serco's Group Finance team. I have also been involved in various divisional projects such as acquisitions and disposals. The first role was Financial Analyst, Group Reporting. I worked within a team responsible for the preparation of Serco Group plc statutory consolidated accounts, annual and half-year reports, and Stock Exchange Announcements. This was a supportive environment in a technical area of Finance within the business, and perfectly suited for me during the first year or so of my studies. I was able to learn and develop each quarter, taking on more technical areas & building on my professional studies. My second role was Financial Analyst, Group Planning. Here I have built on my previous role and am now involved in the preparation of long term plans, half- and full-year forecasts and 1 year budgets. I also support Corporate Finance activities and analysis of the business for external communications. As before, this role contributes to my professional studies, where Risk, Business & Financial strategy are the main subject areas.
What has been the most challenging thing you have done in Serco?
Studying at weekends whilst working in the fast paced environment of Serco Group Finance over two years has been a big commitment, requiring a supportive environment. Without the encouragement and support I have received from everyone that I work with, this challenge would have been considerably more difficult to meet.
What has been the most rewarding thing you have done with Serco?
The most rewarding thing for me was the opportunity to return after my internship to an excellent company within which I can see myself developing quickly and where I believe I will be very happy for a long time to come. Further to that, contributing to the annual report and other documents that enable the world to understand who we are and how well we perform is very rewarding. Last but not least: the opportunities I have been given to demonstrate my capabilities, and to advance them further.
What do you like most about Serco?
The Serco culture offers opportunities not possible in other companies. Serco is a meritocracy: if you are good enough for the job, you will be given the opportunity, regardless of who you are or how long you have been here.
How would you describe the Serco culture?
The simple organisational structure and meritocratic nature of the business facilitates the Principles behind Serco's culture.
If you had to describe Serco in three words, what would they be?
Supportive, Innovative, Successful
How have you developed while with Serco?
I have been studying for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) professional examinations. Further to that I have been able to develop simply by being within the Serco environment: working side-by-side with excellent people and through on the job learning - both formal and informal, I have developed my knowledge of accounting from a management and statutory point of view, my analytical thinking, and my presentation and report writing skills to a high standard.
What do you think differentiates Serco from the competition?
The people. The culture. The opportunities. The people in Serco have always been supportive to me as I learn and develop within the organisation. The culture enables me to become great at what I do and allows me to contribute my ideas. The opportunities available to Serco are vast, across all our different markets. Each of them translates potentially to an opportunity for me to develop and advance along with the group.
In what ways have you supported charity or the local community while with Serco?
The greatest charitable achievement of my career so far was running the 2004 London Marathon for the UK deaf and blind charity, Sense. About 70 colleagues took part and we raised a large amount.
Why would you recommend working for Serco?
The people. The culture. The opportunities.