Finance Graduate Scheme

Locations: Milton Keynes

Salary: £32,000 plus a £2,000 welcome bonus. The next salary uplift will be December 2025 following the first series of exams. Following this there are regular salary uplifts built into the scheme in line with CIMA exams.

Start date: September 2025

What you’ll be doing

Get involved in business, partnering with non-finance teams, as well as learning the main principles of finance including management accounting, project accounting, business planning and helping to produce a business case. Learn about business policy and regulations, the accounting processes, finance systems, finance reporting and accounts payable and receivable. You’ll also complete your certificate level of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualification and sit your first professional exam with CIMA.

The first 4 months will be based at Milton Keynes, completing mini placements in specialist finance teams. The following 3 months will be spent in Manchester with the Accounting Services and the Shared Services teams, where you’ll learn about transactional accounting, before returning to Milton Keynes to complete a six-month corporate placement.

In the second year, you’ll spend time in one of our regional offices including Scotland and Wales.  You’ll use the experience you’ve gained from projects, the understanding of transactional accounting and the knowledge of policies and procedures to add real value to the business areas you’ll be working in.

Who you are matters

You’ll need at least a 2:1 in any degree subject. A-level Maths is desirable but not essential. We’re more interested in you aligning with our values and behaviours, having a curiosity for numbers, and a keenness to succeed.

We look for people with an analytical mind and a flair for financial planning. You’ll be enthusiastic about your work, enjoy collaborating with others and have the skills and ability to communicate with a variety of different audiences.

What you’ll get out of it

Due to the experience you’ll get on the scheme, graduates are often in demand to complete high-profile projects for senior leaders. There could be opportunities to develop your knowledge through external secondments. At the end of your 2-year scheme, you would be eligible for Finance Business Partner roles, earning a salary in the range of £43,588 – £49,037.

Throughout the scheme, you’ll complete the government’s level 7 apprentice programme and receive Associate status with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Once qualified, you’ll be designated as Associate Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

Our scheme has been recognised by CIMA for outstanding exam performance with graduates often securing top ten positions in the world. Past graduates have gone on to become members of the Finance Talent Development programme to further their own professional development.