Minh Trang Nguyen (Alice)

• Year of graduation: 2023
• Current job title: Planning Analyst
• Current employer: NEO NEXT Energy
• Industry sector: Energy

Meet Minh Trang Nguyen, known as Alice, a driven MSc Accounting and Finance graduate who has successfully transitioned into a career as a Planning Analyst at NEO NEXT Energy. After graduating from the University of Northampton in 2023, Alice combined her passion for financial analysis with the skills and confidence she developed during her studies to pursue a role aligned with her ambitions. Through academic achievement and support from Student Futures, Alice gained clarity in her career direction and built the foundations needed to thrive in a fast-paced, analytical role within the energy sector.

What are some of your favourite memories from your time at the University of Northampton?

My classmates and I used to hang out a lot at the library. We spent many evenings there reading and studying together. Usually we studied for about two hours, then took a half-hour break before getting back to work. One time during our break, we found a puzzle box on one of the bookshelves and thought we would play with it for a bit. But once we started, we completely lost track of time. The next time we checked the clock, it was already 2am! Besides studying, we also enjoyed playing football on campus. I wasn’t very good at it, but I really enjoyed spending time with my friends.

Can you tell us about your current role and what a typical day looks like?

I currently work as a Planning Analyst within the Finance department. My role involves budgeting, planning and forecasting, as well as analysing company performance under different scenarios by looking at costs, revenue, cash flows and metrics such as NPV. I also track our actual performance against the budget using key performance indicators (KPIs) to help the business understand how we are performing and to support decision-making.

What experiences or opportunities helped shape your career after graduating from the University of Northampton?

During my Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance at the University of Northampton, I received the highest grade in the “Finance and Business Strategy” module among all my subjects. That experience made me realise that I really enjoyed analysing financial information and thinking about business strategy.

Because of that, I decided to focus my job search on roles where I could use my finance and business knowledge to perform analysis and support decision-making.

Eventually I found my current role, which aligns perfectly with what I wanted to do.

How did the University support your career development while you were a student?

I booked several sessions with the Changemaker Hub (now Student Futures) to discuss my career options and practise interviews. I received helpful advice about what career paths I could pursue with my degree. During the interview practice sessions, I was introduced to the STAR technique. I also learned what types of questions I could expect in interviews and how to structure my answers to present myself more effectively.

What motivated you to get involved in mentoring students through the Student Futures programme?

I received a lot of support during my time at the University of Northampton, from my friends, my professors and the Changemaker Hub. That support played a big role in shaping my future, and I don’t think I would be where I am today without it.

That is why I wanted to support other students when I have the opportunity.

What advice would you give to students who want to pursue a similar career path?

My advice would be to focus on your studies first, because achieving a good degree can really help when applying for jobs. You should also seek advice from the University and from your professors about career opportunities and what skills you should develop. Building a network is also important, start with your classmates, professors and alumni.

What are your ambitions for the next stage of your career?

In the next stage of my career, I would like to go deeper into financial analysis and use insights from data to support strategic decision-making. I am currently learning more about financial management and AI tools to prepare for this next step. In the future, I would like to progress into a senior or managerial role.